Celia Jane Shepherd Cox

Celia Jane Shepherd Cox passed away Wednesday, March 6^th after a brief illness.  She enjoyed a full life of family and friends. She was born September 18, 1938 in Fullerton, Kentucky to Lucille and R. S. Shepherd.  She attended Randolph Macon Woman’s College and the University of Tennessee, graduating with a bachelor of science in medical technology.  Celia married the love of her life, David L. Cox, and they raised a large family together in David’s hometown, Kingsport, TN.

She loved travel, art, reading, nature and gardening and gave herself fully to all of her pursuits.  Some of those include The Garden Club of Ridgefields, Alter Guild at First Broad Street United Methodist Church, Board of Roller Russ House, Kingsport Book Club, Southern Appalachian Plant Society, Master Gardeners of Tennessee, Lifetime Member of Bays Mountain Park, Meals on Wheels, and many other organizations.  Her involvement in these groups brought her joy and many precious friendships.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. David Lemuel Cox and sister-in-law Rachel Cox Eskew.  She is survived by six children: Rachel and husband Don Burch, Rebecca and husband Tom Sanderson, Sarah and husband Chris Owen, Jessica, Wayne and wife Sabrina, Jenny and husband Richard Sisson; twelve grandchildren; James Cantley III, Laura Jones, Caroline Burch, Elizabeth Burch, Rachel Emily Reinauer, Virginia Reinauer, Sarah L. Cox, Leila E. Owen, Celia Sisson, Charlie Sisson, Michael Cox and Christina Cox; great grandchildren Benjamin Jones and Aiden Cox; sister Sarah Brandon of Chico, CA; brother R. Jerome and wife Lois Shepherd of Cleveland, TN; brother-in-law John B. Eskew in Townsend, TN; and many nieces and nephews.

She was the heart of her family and will be dearly missed.

A celebration of her life will be held at First Broad Street United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 10th at 3 pm with Dr. Wm. Randall Frye and The Rev. Canon Milly Morrow officiating. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Broad Street United Methodist Church, 100 E. Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660, Meals on Wheels, 301 Louis St., Kingsport, TN 37660, the Kingsport YMCA, www.ymcakpt.org/give, or to the charity of your choice.