Loyd C. Cox

Loyd C. Cox, 97, of Marietta passed away Friday, October 6, 2017. A Memorial Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home Historic Chapel in Marietta with Rev. Dean Hunter officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Loyd Croley Cox was born in Hardeman County, Tennessee on April 17, 1920 to George Oscar Cox and Minnie Ester Horton. The Cox family lived in the farming community of Hornsby, Tennessee, along U.S. Highway 64 near Oscar's parents, Frank and Ada Cox. Oscar was a farmer, part-time mechanic, and handy man. Sixteen months later, a second son, George Elliott was born August 23, 1921, and then James Horton was born June 3, 1924. Oscar grew tired of farming and in 1925 moved his family to Memphis, Tennessee, where he worked as an automobile mechanic and gas station manager. After moving to Memphis, Oscar and Minnie had another son, George Oscar, Jr., born March 1, 1927. The move to Memphis proved problematic, and Minnie decided not to continue in the marriage. In November 1927 she took her four boys to Alabama to live with her mother, Martha Smith Horton, on the family farm near Eoline in Bibb County, Alabama. Loyd and Elliott were enrolled in Eoline school in the fall of 1928. In 1930 they moved to the Carter Hubbard farm west of Eoline where the family started sharecropping before moving to the Sam Ragland farm the following year. After three years as sharecroppers and making it on their own, Minnie was talked into moving back to the family farm so she could care for her elderly mother and work the family farm. By this time Loyd was twelve years of age and had become good plowing and handling mules and horses. Two years passed and Minnie's brother, R. C. Horton, wanted to move his family back home to take over the farm and live with his mother. Minnie and her boys agreed. Loyd, his mother and three brothers, moved back to Eoline where they lived for over nine years struggling to survive. His mother took in washing and ironing for other families. Loyd and Elliott did farm work, pulpwood and sawmill work and whatever they could to help support the family. During the depth of the great depression, the federal government created a series of public works programs that were a godsend for Loyd and his family. During school months he received financial assistance through the National Youth Administration for janitorial work. After finishing Eoline school he went on to Bibb County High School where he graduated in May 1941. He worked a short time after graduating and then joined the U.S. Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He enlisted on January 24, 1942 and went through basic training at Norfolk, Virginia. After basic training he was assigned to Hospital Corps School at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. After six months there he served at various naval stations, naval hospitals, and on ships at sea. After four years and one month, Loyd received his honorable discharge on March 9, 1946 and returned to his home and family in Eoline. In September 1946 he enrolled at the University of Alabama, and completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in December of 1949. He immediately entered graduate school in January and completed two quarters of work towards a Master of Arts Degree before being called back into the Navy on September 9, 1950 for the Korean War. During this tour of duty he had assignments at the Naval Base in Charleston, South Carolina, the Naval Hospital in Pensacola, Florida and the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California before being discharged again from the Navy on February 26, 1952. In October 1951 during his tour of duty in San Diego, Loyd met a Minnesota girl who would become his wife. On February 9, 1952, Loyd and Marjorie Irva Fullen were married. Following his discharge from the Navy, the newlyweds headed for Alabama and the University so Loyd could complete his Master's Degree. At the end of the summer quarter, he had completed the requirements for his Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision. With his young bride and a Master's Degree, he headed for Dalton, Georgia and began his first year of teaching in late August of 1952. On January 19, 1953, the couple was blessed with the birth of their first child, Nancy Lynn Cox. Following a second year in the Dalton City School System, the family moved to Marietta and Loyd continued his teaching career at Marietta High School. He taught American History, Civics, and Business Law, and also served as an assistant football coach. During their second year in Marietta, Margie gave birth to a second child, David Fullen Cox on July 4, 1956. At the end of his third year of teaching, Loyd was appointed Assistant Principal of Marietta High. Two years later, in 1959, he was appointed Principal. He served in that capacity for six years before being elevated to Superintendent of the Marietta City Schools in 1965. During his tenure as Superintendent, Loyd saw both of his children graduate from Marietta High. After 16 years as Superintendent of Schools, he retired on June 30, 1981 following 28 years of service in the Marietta City School system. During retirement he and Marjorie traveled extensively abroad and enjoyed attending Elderhostel programs nationwide. He also served for many years as a bailiff for Judge George H. Kreegar in the Superior Court of Cobb County. Four grandchildren were born to Loyd and Margie. Peter Brenton Starratt, Jr. was born on January 14, 1980, followed by Lewis Michael Cox on April 15, 1986, Samantha Lynn Starratt on June 23, 1986, and Abigail Lorraine Cox on January 4, 1988. A great-grandson, Peter Brenton Starratt, III, was born on November 2, 2015. Loyd C. Cox passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on the morning of Friday, October 6, 2017. Contributions may be made in memory of Loyd to Cup of Kindness at the First Baptist Church in Marietta.

Loyd C. Cox

April 17, 1920 - October 6, 2017