Norma Jean Cox

Jean died February 26, 2018. She was the only child born to Thomas Charles Williams and Norma Hogan Williams in Bradenton, Florida on January 22, 1929. Shortly after her birth, she and her parents moved to Birmingham where she was raised. Unfortunately, her father died when she was an infant. Jean was lovingly raised by her mother Norma, her grandmother Rena Olivia Hogan and her uncle Alvis Hogan. She attended and graduated from Graymont Grammar School and Phillips High School. After high school she attended and graduated from Birmingham Southern College (class of 1950) where she was a member and officer of Kappa Delta sorority. Jean was an excellent student and at a time some would call “later in life” she pursued and earned a Masters of Education degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham while she was well into her 40’s.

Jean had a long and successful career as an educator with the majority of her tenure with the Birmingham City School System. Approximately three years after graduating from Birmingham Southern, Jean ran into her friend from Phillips high school Richard, while shopping on the streets of downtown Birmingham in 1953. Richard had just returned to the United States after honorably serving in the Korean war. On December 22, 1953 Jean and Richard Leon Cox were married at McCoy Methodist Church in Birmingham. Jean and Richard had two sons, Gregory Richard Cox and Clark Hogan Cox and grandson Michael Clark Cox. Jean and Richard were wonderful and loving parents and grandparents. They made their home in the suburbs of Birmingham until 1963, when the family moved to Montgomery, Alabama for eight years. Subsequently, they moved back to Birmingham in 1971. In 1982 Jean and Richard divorced, however after some time, they put bygones aside and decided to be friends as holidays and other occasions were celebrated together. Jean retired from the Birmingham City School System in 1992. In 1998 Jean met William “Bill” Hurley and they were married on June 12, 1999 at Canterbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham. Jean and Bill enjoyed retirement together and were very active socially. They enjoyed having many friends and loved to dance together. Unfortunately, Bill got sick and in his illness Jean took wonderful care of Bill. Sadly, Bill passed January 28, 2012. Jean also loved the company of Bill’s son’s family, Bruce and Kaye, and their son Justin and daughter Kristen.

Above all, as a Christian, Jean loved the Lord and His Son Jesus Christ and the Christian teachings. She really practiced what was preached to her in that she was always kind, loving, gentle, patient and forgiving, to name just a few of her ways for those who knew and remember her . After her faith, family and friends were the most important to her. She was a member of Canterbury United Methodist Church where she sang the church choir. She lived for family gatherings and social interaction. In addition to dancing, Jean loved music, art, dogs and nature, plays and concerts. Jean always had a smile on her beautiful face while in the company of others. Jean will be truly missed.

Jean is survived by her two sons, Gregory Cox, Clark Cox and his loving wife Denise, her grandson Michael Cox, her former husband Richard Cox, as well as special friends Botan Cox and Janice Whitworth and a host of other true friends. The Celebration of Jean’s life will be Saturday March 3, 2018 at Ridout’s Elmwood Chapel, 800 Dennison Ave., SW Birmingham, Alabama 35211 with Visitation at 10:00am, Chapel Service at 11:00am followed by a graveside service in Elmwood Cemetery.