Mary Ann Smith Cox

"Mary Ann" Smith Cox, 81 years of age, went home to be with The Lord on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024 at Ancora Compassionate Care (Formerly Hospice) in Wentworth, NC. She passed peacefully surrounded by her close friends and family. 

 Mary Ann was born August 6th, 1942 in Rockingham County to the late John "Elisha" Smith and Bessie Mae Wall Smith. She was the third child of four children and the family’s only daughter. She was a 1960 graduate of Reidsville High School. Mary Ann started at Jefferson Standard, in Greensboro, NC at the young age of 17. After taking some brief time off, to care for her father, she served as a District Manager for Avon.  She later went back and retired from Lincoln Financial in Greensboro, NC, after working there, for over 45 years. At an early age, Mary Ann professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined Covington Wesleyan Church where she was a dedicated member. At Covington, she served faithfully as the Secretary for the Executive Board, a Sunday School Teacher, with the Wesleyan Women, and served on multiple Building Committees. She was united in marriage to Lonnie "Preston" Cox Jr., in July of 1960. Preston passed away in October of 2020.  The union was blessed with two daughters, Mitzi Cox Scales and Jennifer Cox Sammons. Mary Ann loved spending time with her family - especially her five grandchildren, bringing great joy to her life. Mary Ann was known as being a light to all that knew her and loved her. As a result of her devout faith, generous spirit, outgoing personality and beautiful smile, she was loved by many.  Her influence will forever remain in the lives of all who knew her. 

In addition to her parents, Mary Ann was preceded in death by two of her siblings Donald Ray Smith and Melvin (Phyllis) Smith, Father-in-law Lonnie Preston Cox Sr., Mother-in-law Janie Bailey Cox, In-law's Wallace Cox, Louise Williams, Shirley Rickman and Buddy Cox. Mary Ann is survived by her oldest daughter Mitzi and son-in-law Tim of Reidsville, her youngest daughter Jennifer of Pilot Mountain, NC and her grandchildren: Karson Walker, Kayla Walker, Karrie Scales, Jackson and Jillian Sammons. She is also survived by her brother Woodson Smith and special "sister-in-love", Carol Smith.  Sister-in-laws, Doris Myrick (Leon), Joanne Sutton, Betty Cox (also one of her best friends); There are a number of wonderful "best" friends that she has cherished throughout her life but we wanted to be sure to recognize them for the part that they have played in her life:  Bettye Ross, Gretta Burgess Maxey (Dale), Martha Ingle, Joyce Case "Casey", Patsy Chilton, Johnnie Faye Holbrook and Diane Carter. THE YAYA's ~ Carole Jones Lee (Danny), Debra Carden (Richard), Melanie Jones Tudor (Daniel) and Chrystal Carden Wagner (Robert).  She also has a large extended family with numerous nieces, nephews, and their children that she loved and cherished dearly. 

A Candlelight Service will be held at 6:30 PM, Monday, February 12th, 2024 at Covington Wesleyan Church with lifetime friend, Rev Ralph Clayton officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 6:15 pm.  A private committal service for the family will be at Reidlawn Cemetery on Tuesday. In addition to the formal visitation, the family will be receiving friends at the home of Mitzi Scales. The family would like to recognize and extend their appreciation to Hospice and all who cared for her during her final days. In lieu of flowers, her memory may be honored by donations to Covington Wesleyan Church and/or Ancora Compassionate Care (Formerly Hospice) . Wilkerson Funeral Home is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.wilkersonfuneral.com