Joseph (Joe) A. Cox, Ph.D

Joseph (Joe) A. Cox, Ph.D., a leader in Educational Psychology, died on June 25, 2022 in Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. A celebration of life memorial will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, August 6 at First United Methodist Church in Pensacola with the Rev. Dr. Henry A. Roberts officiating and reception following. Joe will be buried July 21 beside his wife, JoAnn Kux Cox, in Jackson, Mississippi at Lakewood Memorial Park and Funeral Home at 1:30 PM. Friends and family are invited to either celebration.

Joe was born July 1, 1944 in Rosedale, Mississippi and graduated with a Masters Degree in Education from Delta State University in 1968 where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He served as an officer in the Army from 1968 - 1971 which included a tour of duty in Vietnam for one year. Following discharge from the Army he enrolled in graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) where he received a Ph.D. degree in Special Education with a minor in Educational Research and Cognate in Educational Psychology in 1974.

Joe married JoAnn Kux from Jackson, Mississippi in 1973 and they moved to Pensacola, FL following his graduation from USM in 1974. In Pensacola Joe was instrumental in establishing the Learning Disabilities Center at Lakeview Center (Community Mental Health) in 1975, and writing and being awarded two federal grants to work with troubled adolescents, from 1977 - 1984, where he was Director of Operation Divert and Project New Pride, respectively. His work in these respected programs helped hundreds of children & adolescents over these years. Dr. Cox began independent practice in 1984 working 34 years delivering academic remediation services to children and their families. In retirement, Joe enjoyed cooking, socializing with friends and working out at the YMCA. He was an avid traveler and visited Europe, South America, South Africa, and the Caribbean.

Joe is preceeded in death by his wife JoAnn Cox and parents Byron & Winnie Cox of Rosedale, Mississippi. He is survived by his brother, John B. Cox, M.D. (Anne) of Huntsville, Alabama, nieces Christy Ulm (Jay) and Kathryn Martin (Brian) of Nashville, Tennessee, and great nephews Matthew Ulm, Daniel Ulm, Dax Martin and great nieces Hannah Ulm and Clover Martin.

Special thanks for their faithful friendship goes to neighbors Mary and John McGill, friends Bradley Proctor, Charlie Spatch, Robin Baker, and long time practice associate Dr. Larry Gilgun and wife Irene.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Pensacola with designation for JoAnn Kux Cox Millsaps College Scholarship Fund.