Joe Stevenson Cox

Joe Stevenson Cox, born on October 21,1949 in Columbus, MS, to the late Margaret L. (Harris) Cox and the late Oscar O’Neal Cox, passed away at the age of 69 on June 11, 2019, in Gulfport, Mississippi surrounded by his family and loved ones. Joe graduated from Gulfport High East in 1967. He attended and taught drafting and design at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Jeff Davis Campus) from 1967 to 1971. In 1974, he formed the company JMAR Design where he subcontracted drafting and design services to Shell Oil and Shell Chemical in Norco, LA. In 1983, he and his wife (Marie) opened The Letter Box Monogramming Shop in Gulfport, MS. He retired as Lead Designer for GE Plastics in 2000. In his early years, he worked alongside his family at his family’s business, Gulf Coast Lifetime Homes, where he designed and built homes with his father and brother (Jimmy). Joe had a passion for fishing, cooking and playing the guitar, but most of all he loved spending time with his family especially his granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Martha N. Johnson; brother, Billy W. Cox; and sister, Peggy A. Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Marie Keel Cox; children, Stephenie Cox Murray (Anthony) and Jay Stevenson Cox (Mariah); brother, Jimmy D. Cox (Judy) and grandchildren, Lindsey Murray; Burklee Cox and Maggie Cox. A memorial service will be held at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 1726 15th Street, Gulfport, MS, 39501 on Saturday, June 22, 2019 from 11:00 am to noon. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The family would like to extend a special thank you the medical staff of Coast Cardiovascular Associates, the Memorial Hospital ICU team and 6th floor nursing team for their great care and loving attention provided to our Papa. Also, we would like to thank Bubba Lang at Bradford-O’Keefe for his friendship, kindness and support through a very difficult time. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital; 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street Chapel, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements.