Jane Cox

Jane Smith Cox of Snellville, Georgia passed away on August 17, 2024, just shy of her 91st birthday.

Jane was born in Columbus, Georgia on August 26, 1933, to the late Mildred and Harold Smith. She was raised in Goat Rock and graduated from Mountain Hill School. Afterwards, Jane attended Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, where she studied interior design and drove around campus in her brand-new convertible – a gift from her uncle, Leo Sloan, who said the car was hers upon graduation. However, Jane met Billy Cox of Whitesville, Georgia, and gave up both the convertible and her college career. Jane and Billy were married at Piney Grove Baptist Church in Fortson, Georgia on December 22, 1951. They lived in Columbus before moving to Atlanta in 1964. They were married for over 68 years at the time of Billy’s death on February 3, 2020.

Jane will be remembered as a true force of nature with a knack for telling it like it is. She loved gardening (Jane had a battery-powered blower she used daily to remove leaves that dared to fall on her immaculate lawn), decorating (if you ever saw her house, you know), cleaning (Tuesdays and Thursdays without fail), hosting breakfast for her family every Sunday (you were only allowed three pieces of bacon – but it was crispy perfection and yes, she counted), and yellow rubber gloves (size small).

Jane is survived by her children, Mike (Linda) Cox of Snellville, and Melissa (Richard) Panarese of Atlanta; her grandchildren Christopher Cox, Blaine (Candi) Cox and Chandler Panarese; and her great-granddaughter Izzy Cox. Also surviving is her cousin, Wimberly Smith, of Greenville, South Carolina, along with her many nieces and nephews.

A visitation with family and friends will be held at Wages & Sons Stone Mountain Chapel, 1040 Main Street, Stone Mountain, Georgia, on Saturday, September 7, 2024, beginning at 1:00 pm. A memorial service will follow in the chapel beginning at 2:00 with Pastor Katie Christie presiding. In lieu of flowers, a contribution in Jane’s honor may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 1826 Killian Hill Road SW, Lilburn, GA 30047.