Joyce Mae Cox

It was her family where Mom's love truly shone brightest. My sisters Dianne and Lynette, myself, and all of her grandchildren - we each had something that was uniquely ours with Mom. She assigned each of us a special day of the week. On that day, she would pray for us with extra intention, and we would receive one of her emails - those wonderful, rambling, loving emails that somehow managed to contain everything from family news to gentle advice to reminders that we were loved. We're all going to miss those emails so much. They were like receiving a hug through the computer screen, a reminder that no matter what was happening in our lives, Mom was thinking of us, praying for us, cheering us on.

But as I've reflected on Mom's life this past week, I've realized that those weekly emails weren't just a sweet tradition—they were the perfect picture of how she lived her entire 88 years. She had this extraordinary gift for paying attention to people, for making each person feel special and cared for. That same loving attention sustained her marriage for 71 years. Seventy-one years! Think about that. Through decades of change, challenge, and joy, she chose love again and again. She was solid in the truest sense—not rigid, but reliable. A foundation her family could count on. For 34 years, she brought that same caring spirit to her work at Enriched Living Workshops for Women. She wasn't just putting in time; she was investing in people, helping other women find their strength and potential. Every day, she showed up ready to make a difference in someone's life.

Perhaps what made Mom most special, though, was her gift for making people feel loved and valued. She cherished her friendships, whether she was hosting card games, folding bulletins with the ladies at church or hosting fondue dinners with church friends.

Mom could take the ordinary and make it special. She played piano—not for performance, but for the joy of it, filling our house and the church with music. She and Dad loved to travel and went on cruises and lots of road trips, many of which centered around where Cracker Barrell was located.

As a Christian, Mom understood that love is at the heart of everything worthwhile. Her faith wasn't separate from her daily life—it was woven through everything she did. Those weekly prayers for each of us weren't just routine; they were how she partnered with God in loving her family. Every email was a little blessing, every phone call a small ministry.

So today, as we celebrate this extraordinary woman, let's not just remember Mom - let's honor her by living with the same joy, the same strength, the same unwavering love that she showed us every single day of her 88 years on this earth.

Thank you, Mom, for 88 years of building something beautiful. We will carry it with us always.