In Memory of...

Mrs. Elma Cox, 92, of 125 Maybelle Street died Monday, September 29, 2014 at Waldrop Personal Care Home.

She was born in Cartersville on Pumpkinvine Creek, January 20, 1922, daughter of Bardy Tompie Abernathy and Mary Alice (Howell) Abernathy.

Elma started attending Tabernacle Baptist Church when she was three and a half (3 1/2) years old and often spoke of remembering the sawdust floors of the "Old Tabernacle" (in another location on Tennessee Street), which is now Tabernacle Baptist Church. She was saved during a Revival service in August when she was thirteen (13) years old and was baptized by the Reverend George Crowe and remained a member of Tabernacle until her death. Reverend Crowe also officiated her wedding in his home in Marietta on Pearl Harbor Day December 7, 1941. She and her new husband, "Peck", learned of the bombing of Pearl Harbor when they arrived back at her parents' home on Gilmer Street that day. Despite such a fearful beginning that led to Elma's bout with polio in Oregon while Peck was training there for his wartime service in Germany, they were blessed with a sweet, God-honoring marriage of almost seventy- one (71) years.

Elma was a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother and friend. She was a long-time employee of E-Z Mills and Cartersville Undergarment until an automobile accident, in addition to her general poor health, left her to her most prized occupation of wife and mother in the home.

Mrs. Cox was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Robert Mitchell Cox, brothers Richard Hosea and Luther Franklin Abernathy; sisters Melissa Alice (Abernathy) Cochran, Ottie Mae Abernathy, and Elsie Marie (Abernathy) Kerce; and grand daughter-in-law Robin (Robichau) Kelly.

Elma is survived by one daughter and son-in-law Suzanne (Cox) Kelly and Mark V. Kelly, II of Carterville; two grand children Chad Mitchell Kelly and his wife Betsy (Hershberger) Kelly of Ellijay; Karli (Kelly) Ralston and her husband Roger Edward "Sage" Ralston of Dalton; ten great- grandchildren Hannah Suzanne Kelly, Nathan Mitchell Kelly, Jonas Mark Kelly, Karis Ann Kelly, Kathleen Annelle Ralston, Sage Buckner "Buck" Ralston, Julia Kelly Ralston, Isaac Cox "Ike" Ralston, Bailey Allen and Grant Ballew; one sister Eulin (Abernathy) Scott Cochran and brother-in-law J. T. Cochran who were always good to visit her; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Sage, Buck and Ike Ralston, Mark, Chad, Nathan and Jonas Kelly will serve as Pall Bearers. Deacons of Tabernacle Baptist Church will serve as Honorary Pall Bearers.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 3, 2014 at 11:00 A. M. in the Owen Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Don Hattaway, Rev. Chad Kelly and Rev. Mark Kelly officiating. The family will receive friends before the service from 10:00 – 11:00 A. M. . Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Special thanks from Elma's family to the Waldrop Personal Care Home family – management, staff and resident s; and Heartland Hospice staff and volunteers who together have helped allow Elma to live out her last days in peaceful, caring surroundings .

We are also thankful for the prayers and visits of Christian friends and family as well as the staff and membership of Tabernacle Baptist Church which included many of Elma's friends over the years.

Contributions may be made to Tabernacle Baptist Church or to The Gideons.

Owen Funeral Home 12 Collins Drive is in charge of arrangements.

As published on the Owen Funeral Home website.