Doris Emily Cox

1959 - 2021

Doris Emily Cox

May 30, 1959 - August 7, 2021

It is with profound sadness that we say goodbye to our beautiful sister and friend, Doris Cox, daughter of Diley and Edith Cox of Riner, Virginia.

When Doris was seven years old, she was diagnosed with diabetes and fought to live—every single day--she fought for another day. She survived a kidney transplant in 1998 and was forever grateful to the donor family of Chuck Hull for a pancreas transplant in 1999. She was truly grateful for the gift of life.

Doris had a passion for singing – anywhere, anytime she had breath to do so. During multiple hospitalizations, she stayed positive by setting goals such as 1) go home from the hospital and love on her cats, 2) get strong enough to walk and wear cool shoes again, 3) hop back in her car and drive anywhere she wanted, and 4) grab a microphone again and sing praise songs to her God. She didn't spend time looking back—she looked to the future.

She was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), General William Campbell Chapter. Her work life was in accounting at Wheatland Hills Retirement Center, Wade's Supermarkets and ITT.

She is already missed by her fiancé, Tony Thompson; siblings, Glenna Rakes (Elwood), Virginia Rakes (Kenneth), Richard Cox (Shirley), Barbara Lemmon, Blanche Pearsall, Carolyn Kirk (Wayne), and Charles Cox (Dawn). Preceding her in death were her Mom and Dad; niece, Whitney Rakes Vesterfelt; and brother-in-law, Jere Pearsall.

A memorial service honoring her life will be held at Lotz Funeral Home in Salem on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 11 a.m. The family will receive friends from 10 until 11 a.m. prior to the service at Lotz Funeral Home. A committal service will be held following the memorial service at Pentecostal Holiness Church Cemetery in Indian Valley, Va. at 2 p.m.