Lois Easter Cox

Lois Easter Keith Cox of Annandale, Virginia, 89, went home to be with her Lord on June 24, 2026 at Harper’s Station of Gainesville Memory Care. She was born on April 28, 1937 in the mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia to the late Joe Keith and Easter Stockner Keith. The family moved to Hillsville, Virginia where Lois and her four siblings grew up surrounded by a large, expanded family. A chance blind date shortly before graduating from Hillsville High School, resulted in a loving, 66-year marriage to Fred Huston Cox. Together, they enjoyed five children, moved frequently between homes in Tennessee and Virginia, participated in countless number of sporting events, worshipped the Lord, served others, and kept each other smiling.

Lois had a variety of jobs from a hosiery mill seamstress and Bell Atlantic switchboard operator in her early years before becoming a full-time mom. After the children were out of the house and Fred retired to work at a golf course, Lois returned to work at Dell as a human resource specialist until she was 78 years old. Throughout her life, she volunteered in civic and church organizations like Girl Scouts, Annandale High School Boosters, and Columbia Baptist receptionist. However, the activities that seemed to give her the greatest pleasure were cheering on kids or grandkids in sports, taking trips with her sisters to “Christmas shop,” building friendships with all the wonderful ladies in the Joy Class, hosting week-long sleepovers with daily adventures for grandchildren during Vacation Bible School, and singing almost every word of any song in harmony.

Lois is survived by her two sons Terry Cox (Greta) and Mark Cox (Kelly), her daughter Kim Shepherd (Jamie), two sisters Carolyn Snow (Doug) and Peggy Hatley (Larry), nine grandchildren Tiffany Niehl, Sean Cox, Casey Cox, Kezia Leckey, Brittany Leckey, Bailey Deal, Cody Cox, Bethany Dodson, and Kevin Cox, eight great-grandchildren, and many sisters- and brother-in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Fred Cox, two daughters Tracey Leckey and Michelle Cox, her brother Winfred Keith, and her sister Mary Gardner.

A family burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery in Falls Church, VA followed by a Celebration of Life service and reception at Columbia Church. A date and time will be provided when determined.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Columbia Church (Lois and Fred’s church for 40 years), The Lamb Center in Fairfax, Virginia (a daytime drop-in center for the homeless that Lois actively supported), or http://www.alz.org.