Pat Cox

Shirley Pat West Cox, age 92, passed away at her home on July 5, 2021, surrounded by her family and love.

Visitation for family and friends will be Thursday 7/8/21 at 1:00p CST at the First United Methodist Church in Opelika, AL, followed by a Celebration of Life at 3:00pm CST in the sanctuary of the church. Burial will be the following day, Friday 7/9/21 at 1pm CST (2:00 pm EST), at Pebble City Baptist Church in Sale City, GA.

Pat was born 3/8/1929 in Pelham, GA, the daughter of Johnnie Mae (Leary) and Forrest Brinson West. After marrying, Pat lived in Tifton, GA for 66 years before moving to live with her daughter at Lake Martin, Alabama.

She was a 66-year member of the First Baptist Church, Tifton, GA, and a member since 2018 of First United Methodist Church in Opelika, AL.

Throughout her life, Pat was a very active participant in all facets of church life. She was member of Blanch Chapter No. 8 Order of the Eastern Star (OES), Tifton, GA, holding numerous positions before serving as Worthy Matron, District Grand Deputy for District 18 OES for the State of Georgia, and a frequent representative to the Georgia Grand Chapter OES. She was active in leadership of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Tifton Shrine Club and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Tifton Marching Patrol of Hasan Temple. She served with her husband, on the Transportation Committee for driving children to the Shrine Hospitals for Crippled and Burned Children.

To know Pat was to love her, and to truly know the love and character of Jesus. The fruit of God’s spirit defined her. She was loving, kind, gentle, patient, and incredibly faithful. She was genuine, sincere, and a source of comfort and servanthood. Pat had an enduring strength and unlimited abilities she loved to share with others. A few of which were cooking, baking, catching and cleaning fish, shelling peas, pushing a lawnmower, shelling on the beaches, sewing, whittling, painting, and gardening. Pat was a captivating storyteller and a selfless caretaker throughout her life. She had a vibrant smile and spirit of joy and positivity that left an impression on all who knew her. Her spunky, playful spirit was treasured by the youngest to the oldest. She was loved, because she fiercely loved and it drew others to her. In her later years, as far as she traveled, she was dearly known as “Grandma”.  Far beyond her family, Pat is loved and will be missed by many, many friends across the country who were privileged to participate in her life.

Preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Jim M. Cox Jr., and by one great-grandson, Pat is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Leary and Belinda Cox of Columbia, SC; one daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Larry Wieczorek of Lake Martin, AL; six grandchildren, Sabria (& Shayne) Phillips, Carmen (& Justin) Potts, Andrea Cox, Brian (& Sara) McConville, Elizabeth (& Bryan) Calhoun, Michael (& Stephanie) McConville and 11 great-grandchildren; one brother, E. Earle West of Chattanooga, TN; one brother-in-law, Cary (& Muriel) Cox of Baconton, GA; two sisters-in-law, Eunice Hurst of Climax, GA, and Phyllis Cox of Sale City, GA; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the REACH Community Respite Ministry in Auburn, AL. For the last two years of her life, Pat benefitted greatly from participation in their memory care program. Donations may be made to: Auburn United Methodist Church with “REACH” noted on the memo line, PO Box 3135, Auburn, AL  36831.  www.reachrespite.org

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.