Reverend John Edmond Cox was born into time and mortality on August 27, 1941, in Monroe County, MS, to the union of Reverend Henry Allen Cox and Edna E. Davis Cox. On June 22, 2024, he transcended mortality and embraced immortality. A scholar of great distinction, he was educated in the Lee and Monroe County School Districts. He attended Itawamba Junior College, receiving a Management and Supervision certificate. He later received a diploma in Plumbing from Virginia Tech. He continued his academic journey at the Mississippi Baptist Seminary, earning his B.S. in Theology and furthering his studies at the extension of the American Baptist Seminary of Nashville, TN.

Reverend Cox served as pastor of Pleasant Grove, Rienzi, MS, Whitehill M.B. Church, Tupelo, MS, Zion Spring M.B. Church, Okolona, MS, Mount Union M.B. Church, Aberdeen, MS, and Macedonia M.B. Church, Houston, MS, where he served until his retirement in 2020. He started his ministry journey in May 1972, with his first Pastoralship beginning in November 1973. Later, he served as Dean, First Moderator, and Moderator of the Springhill District Association and as chairperson of the Foreign Mission Board, both state and national. He was
fortunate to visit the Holy Land in 1996 with friends, acquaintances, and fellow laborers of the gospel.

Reverend Cox was married to Gloria Smith on November 17, 1973. Three children were born
into this union; Reverend Marcus Cox, Mesha Cox, and Jonathan (Jon Jon) Cox.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan (Jon Jon) Cox; his parents, Henry and Edna Cox; his grandmother, Nannie Barksdale; one granddaughter, Jazmeeka McGaughy; four sisters, Evelyn Cox, Lela Washington, Henri Edna Goree, and Shirley Johnson; and one brother, Reverend Charles Cox.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria Cox of Shannon; children, Marcus Cox (Rhonda) and Mesha Cox of Tupelo, MS; Tyrone Cox and John Earl Cox of Nettleton, MS; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three sisters, Ida Seals, Lucille Goree, and Linda Ivy of Shannon, MS; one brother, Larry Cox of Okolona, MS; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Visitation will be at 10 - 11 am Saturday, June 29, 2024 at White Hill M.B. Baptist Church. Funeral service will follow at 11 am in the church. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.