Gay Marrow Cox

Mrs. Gay Marrow Cox, 97, passed away on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at Spring Arbor of Greenville.
Visitation will be held on Monday, October 13th, at 10 a.m. at St. James United Methodist Church. A funeral service will follow at 11a.m. Burial will follow in Pinewood Memorial Park.
A native of Roper in Washington County, Gay was born on July 29, 1928 to the late William and Myrla Chesson Marrow.
Gay graduated from Roper High School, Fairfax Hall Junior College (Waynesboro, VA), and Pan American School for Girls (Richmond, VA). She studied voice while in Richmond under renowned Conald O'C Quirk. While in high school and college, she enjoyed playing basketball, singing, and dancing.
She returned to North Carolina where she met her late husband, WWII veteran William Riley Cox. They were married for 59 years until his death in 2010. They were longtime residents of Greenville.
She was a member of St. James United Methodist Church, where for many years she was very active. She sang in the choir which she enjoyed with all her heart. She was a member of the Semi Centi Book Club, Dig N' Delve Garden Club, St. James United Methodist Women, and her bridge club of many friends.
In addition to her parents and late husband, Gay was preceded in death by her sister, Pat Hamilton.
She is survived by her son, William R. "Bill" Cox, Jr. and wife, Susan, of Greenville; daughter Myrla C. Florstedt and fiancé, Jim Ward, of Greenville; grandchildren, Brandon Cox of Charlotte, Lauren Cox Morales and husband, Goyo, of Bluffton, SC, Chad Florstedt of Portland, OR, Hillary Florstedt Mekanik and husband, Doug, of Midlothian, VA; great grandchildren Natalia Morales, Roman Morales, Olivia Mekanik, and Grayson Mekanik.
The family would like to give special thanks to home caregiver Nina Carol Layton and the loving staff at Spring Arbor of Greenville.
'Mama Gay' lived and believed that the most precious gift one can give is kind thoughts and genuine care for the people in your life. If you should choose to send a gift in her honor, please send to St. James United Methodist Church Pastor's Discretionary Fund or a charity of your choosing.