James Jerry Cox

James Jerry Cox, known to friends and family as “Jim,” was born October 16, 1942, at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta to parents Hoyt O. Cox and Annie Yarbrough Cox. His mother Annie passed away shortly after his birth and he was raised by his loving step-mother Dicie Chambers Cox. He grew up in College Park, Georgia, and attended College Park High School, where he played in the band among other activities. A life-long musician, he could play any instrument he picked up, and played many over the course of his life. He attended the University of Georgia in Athens, and graduated with a degree in Psychology.

While at UGA, Jim became friends with Fayette “Mack” McElhannon, Jr., and met Mack’s sister, Margaret, whom he married. Jim and Margaret lived in Douglasville, Georgia, where both were school teachers – Jim teaching mathematics. They had two daughters, Sonja and Judy. After teaching school for a few years, Jim went to work for the federal government, starting at the Central Intelligence Agency, where he worked for a brief time before moving to the US Justice Department, Drug Enforcement Agency. He worked at the DEA for the rest of his career, as a case investigator and later in administrative positions, where he had a chance to guide and mentor younger colleagues before retiring. After retiring from the DEA, he completed a Master’s Degree in Divinity, and continued to study related topics for the rest of his life.

While at the DEA, on a work trip to Augusta, Georgia, Jim met Carol Jameson, who would become his wife. They spent the rest of their days together till Carol’s passing in 2022.

Jim loved music, especially bluegrass, country, gospel, and early rock ‘n roll. He played guitar, banjo and fiddle, and sang country, gospel and bluegrass songs with friends many a weekend night in one living room or another. He also loved sports, and spent time as a baseball umpire and basketball referee in recreational sports programs in Douglas County for several years, a fun activity he shared with some of his friend group. He was a big Atlanta Braves fan, always following the seasons and rarely missing a game on TV. He enjoyed going to games in Atlanta with friends and family when he could. He was also an Atlanta Falcons season ticket holder for several years, and enjoyed attending those games at the Georgia Dome. As a UGA alum, he was a huge Georgia Bulldogs fan, and kept football season tickets for many years, taking Sonja and Judy to many games in Athens and away, including most games of the 1979-80 National Championship season. They saw the Lindsey Scott-Buck Ballew miracle in Jacksonville, and many Hershel Walker heroics over that season and others. Jim and his daughters went to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans in 1980 for the national championship game and it was highlight memory for all of them.

Later in life, Jim became a NASCAR fan, and was a huge supporter of Bill Elliott and Chase Elliott. Jim was the kind of person who would just drive by the Elliotts’ garage in Dawsonville on a weekend whim, stop in, and the folks there, like Ernie Elliott, were happy to take time to talk with him. He and Carol bought a condo in Ormond Beach, Florida, just north of the Daytona Speedway, and spent many happy times there enjoying the beach and races at the speedway.

Jim and Carol were devoted members of the First Baptist Church in Douglasville and were a part of that loving community for many years, with many cherished friendships.

Jim was often quiet and reserved, but loved to have a good time, and everybody has a fun story or two, or many, to tell about time spent with him involving music, sports, friend trips, and the like. He has been well loved by many, many good friends and family, and will be remembered with great fondness, and very much missed.

Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Carol Cox, and parents Hoyt, Annie, and Dicie Cox. He is survived by his daughters Sonja Cox and Judy Cox, granddaughter Adagio Cox, step-daughter Becky Betts and her husband Thomas Betts, grandsons Eric and Sean Betts, step-son David Roberts and his wife Sarah Roberts, granddaughter Leah Roberts and grandson Eli Roberts, step-son Andy Roberts, brother Roger Cox and his wife Sherry Cox, nephew Darryl Cox and his wife Raegan Cox, great-nieces Makenzie and Brylee Cox, niece Maureen Cox Myers and her husband Jason Myers, great-niece Bayliss Myers and great-nephew Deacon Myers, many cousins, and many, many friends.

The family will receive friends at Whitley Garner Funeral Home Thursday, August 20 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home chapel at 3:00 pm with Pastor John Pennington officiating. Committal services will be held at Rosehaven Cemetery.

When ordering a floral tribute please contact our preferred florist, Frances Florist at (770) 949-8711 for guaranteed delivery.

Whitley Garner at Rosehaven is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements of Mr. James Jerry Cox.