Maxine Lucille “Mickey” Cox, 93, passed away October 21, 2017 at home in Athens, Alabama. Mrs. Cox was born on November 25, 1925 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois to Issac Edward Ford and Jessie Tannehill Ford. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Union City, Tennessee and, for the past seven years, had resided in Athens and attended the First Methodist Church of Athens.
Visitation services will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., today, October 23, 2017 at Spry Funeral Home in Athens. Another visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a funeral service to follow at the First Methodist Church in Union City, Tennessee on Wednesday, October 25, 2017. Burial will follow at Obion County Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Cox was preceded in death by her parents; one sister; five brothers; and her husband of 60 years, Eddie R. Cox, Jr.
She is survived by her son, Michael E. Cox, of Union City; her daughter, Jayne Ann Higginbotham, of Athens; granddaughter, Jennifer Davis (Todd), of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; grandsons, David Cox, of Jackson, Tennessee, Peyton Cox, of Orlando, Florida, Ryan Higginbotham (Dianne) of Union City, Tennessee, Alex Higginbotham and Chase Higginbotham (Shannon), of Athens, Benjamin Jorge (Paige), of Nashville, Tennessee, and Jonathan Jorge (Christina) ,of Union City. She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Madeline Higginbotham, of Athens, and Palmer Higginbotham and George Higginbotham, both of Union City, Tennessee.
Mickey, as she was known to friends, “Mother” to her children and “Mimi”, as she was known to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, will always be remembered for her generous heart and, most of all, her smile. She was the friendliest of friendly and would make anyone feel at home with her kind words and the compliments that slipped so easily from her mouth.
She came from very humble beginnings during the Depression. Many are unaware that she was an accomplished roller skater back in her high school days with flips and twirls. She and her husband married at 18 during WWII. Her husband served in both WWII and the Korean War. In 1952, they moved to Union City, Tennessee from Mount Vernon. She was very active in her church and community. She lived in Union City until 2010 when she went to live with her daughter in Alabama for the past seven years. Peacefully, on Saturday afternoon, heaven gained our sweet angel.
