Janie Bess Andrews Cox ~ Obituary

Janie Bess Andrews Cox, age 88, passed away peacefully in her home on Sept. 2, 2009, with her daughters at her bedside.

Born in Paris, Tenn., on Sept. 12, 1920, to Marvin Lee and Lizzie Dillon Andrews, she graduated from Grove High School in Paris and then earned a Bachelor of Arts (English, 1938) from Lambuth College and a Master of Arts (English, 1973) from the University of Memphis.

She taught English, French, drama, speech and business writing in public high schools in Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana and retired from the Caston School Corporation (Indiana) in 1990.

Ms. Cox was preceded in death by her loving parents; brothers (and sisters-in-law) Charles Lester (Dodie) and Neil Dillon (Vida) Andrews; baby brother, Howard Lee, and baby sister, Emma Armenta Andrews.

She is survived by devoted daughters, Cheryl L. Cox (Memphis, Tenn.) and Connie Cox Bodner (Columbus, Ohio); granddaughter, Abigail Andrews Cox (Cincinnati, Ohio); sisters-in-law, Waunita Johnson (Logansport, Ind.) and Marilyn Becker (Metea, Ind.); nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; good friends; and the thousands of students whose lives she touched as a teacher, mentor and adviser.

Janie Cox loved her family, her students, words, summer days, well-constructed arguments, and “real” Southern cooking.

We loved her beyond description. We miss her beauty and her sense of humor and we will work hard to deserve the love and pride she proclaimed for us every day of our lives.

Ms. Cox’s cremated remains will be returned to Paris, Tenn., to be reunited with her family.

Memorial gifts in her honor will be gratefully welcomed by her two favorite charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tn. 38105; and the Ohio Historical Society, 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211.

High Point Funeral Chapel

901-454-5795

Reprinted from THE PARIS POST-INTELLIGENCER
Paris, Tennessee
September 8, 2009 Edition ~ Used by Permission