Geraldine Cox

Geraldine Cox
Jacksonville - Ethel Geraldine Cox passed away on March 9, 2026, at the home of her daughter in South Jacksonville.
Geraldine was born Ethel Geraldine Darr on April 25, 1935 in Piasa, Illinois, the daughter of Chester and Blanche Darr. She grew up on farms in the Medora and Piasa, Illinois Communities. She graduated from high school in Shipman, Illinois in 1953. However, Jacksonville has been her home since 1962.
She was known by many names, Mom, Grandma, Mommy Cox, Ma Cox, Geraldine, Geri to her closest friends, and Ethel (which she despised) to a few. As well, in her younger days we understand she was Jelly Bean.
In 1957 she married Freddie Cox and he preceded her in death in 2008. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws, Andrew Cox and Dorothy Cox Connors, brothers, Everett Darr, Floyd Darr, Dwight Darr, Eldon Darr, Myron Darr, Clyde Darr, Loren Darr and Dale Darr and one sister Maurietta Stone, as well as several sisters in laws and brothers in laws, a niece and multiple nephews. Mrs. Cox leaves behind her children, Malea (Jack) Harney, David (Penny Auner Maly) Cox, both of South Jacksonville and Darren (Susan) Cox, Colleyville, TX. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Makenzi (Gillis) Crouse (Charlie), and Afton (Gillis) Theobald, (Thomas) both of Ft. Myers, FL, Payton (Laryssa) Gillis, O'fallon, MO, and Tanner (Emily) Gillis, Virden, IL, Lauren (Cox) Manker, Austin (Lauren) Cox, both of Jacksonville, and Lindley Cox, Colleyville, TX. She leaves behind 14 great-grandchildren, Avery, Ansley, and Chase Crouse, Brooks and Collins Theobald, Emma, Beckhem, and Tuscan Gillis, Viola and Fiora Gillis, Jude and Ellie Manker, Charlie Grey, and Colson Cox. She had three bonus grandchildren via her son-in-law, Shelle (Steve Allen), Concord, IL, Jake (Chelsea) Harney, Murrayville, IL, and Sammye (Drew) Geer, Franklin, IL, and seven bonus great grandchildren, Madison Allen, Talan, Chloe, and Bryant Harney, and Gracee, Paislee, and Parker Geer. She also leaves behind many "favorite" nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Cox was a mother and homemaker and spent over 30 years providing in-home child care to several Jacksonville children, during their formative years and now grown, including Eddie Mason, Michael Tolbert, Michael Rowe, Tyler Brown, Scott Baptist, Eric and Laura Herbst, Katelyn and Zackary Kimble, Nina Baumgartner, Stacy Ratliff and Carly and Connor Stone.
She loved spending time at the Jacksonville Area Senior Center playing Bunco, Mexican Train, Rummikub and Phase 10 and was an avid fiction reader and TV watcher. She enjoyed meals out and socializing with her many friends. She had a way with children and loved any time she could spend with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed children and really never grew up herself, even at the age of 90.
A funeral service will be held on Monday March 16, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. at Williamson Funeral Home in Jacksonville. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m Monday prior to services. Burial will directly follow services at Diamond Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Jacksonville Area Senior Center or The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.