Emily D. Coxe

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

I Corinthians 13:4-7; 13

Emily Dickerson Coxe, 85, passed peacefully in her home on February 5th, 2025. Emily was born to nurturing and loving parents in Columbia, South Carolina in 1939. She remained in South Carolina until her parents relocated to Wilmington, NC in the 1950s. She attended New Hanover High School and graduated in 1958. The high school annual described her as “serious and smart; sincere and dependable; sweetness plus”. Em was all of these things and so much more.

After high school, Emily attended Wilmington College and then transferred to University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Women’s College) where she earned a B.S. Degree in Chemistry in 1962. After graduation, she moved to Tennessee to work as a chemist with Tennessee Eastman. While living in Tennessee, she attended East Tennessee State University where she received her Master’s Degree in Education. She taught elementary school in Tennessee before returning to Wilmington, NC in her dream car, a sky blue convertible, in the late 70s. She continued to teach elementary school until she accepted a role at AAI Pharma where she worked in many different capacities as the company grew. Co-workers often sought her counsel around proper wording and exactness in written communication, which she humbly offered through her meticulous red editorial pen. She retired from AAI Pharma after almost 30 years of service.

Emily loved nature, gardening, walking (preferably at the beach), kayaking the Black River, card games with neighbors and, of course, the Golden Girls. She enjoyed architecture, history, museums, books and had an eclectic and varying taste in music. She was always up for the symphony, a museum trip, travel with friends, a play, or an opera.

Emily was loved by her friends and family for her intellectual abundance, her wit, generous spirit, and never-ending kindness. Emily dedicated her life to serving others, especially her family and friends. She always put the needs of others before her own. She was full of Christian goodness and faithfulness that was evident in her daily life and always without any expectations. Never boastful, with quiet, gentle speech, she had self control and never spoke words that were hurtful or would need to be recalled. She will always be remembered as the stable, calming influence among her friends crazy antics. Memories of her will forever be emblazoned in our minds and on our hearts. Love of friends is to be cherished and Emily was cherished by all.

Emily was preceded in death by her parents, Harwood Beebe Coxe and Eleanor Dickerson Coxe; her brothers Harwood “Woody” Beebe Coxe, Jr. and his wife Carolyn “Carol” Welch Coxe; Andrew “Andy” Syester Coxe II and nephew, Jason Harwood Coxe.

She leaves behind her beloved sister Alice Coxe Eborn (Bill), sister-in-law Roberta “Bobbie” Sparkes Coxe, stepson Edward “Eddie” Crawford, nieces Mitzi Coxe Swing (Dusty), Amy Denise Coxe, Jennifer Eleanor Coxe, Melanie Eborn Elks (Mark), Melissa Eborn Simons, nephew Bradley Andrew Coxe (Julie) and grand nieces Ella Katherine Coxe, Leah Morgan Czechlewski, Haley Tyndall Schlaeger (Joey), Charlotte Simons and grand nephews Gavin Andrew Coxe and Jack Simons.

A graveside service will be held, Friday March 14, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Oleander Memorial Gardens, 306 Bradley Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28409. A reception will follow at the Gathering Hall of Wesley United Methodist Church, 1401 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Emily’s name to the Audubon Society, the North Carolina Symphony or Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.