My grandmother passed away this past spring. The last visit to my hometown found her home up for sale. It struck me as sad, but I guess that is what is expected. I had the honor of doing her eulogy, one of the hardest things I've done. But I wanted all to be able to read it today, on Mamaw Friday.
Lillian Doris McCoy was born on October 14, 1918 in Grainger County, TN to Alexander and Lillie Williams McCoy. She was the fourth of six children. There were four boys and two girls: Hubert (who died at age 4), Eugene, Vaughn, Alfred, Stacia, and Doris. Her family often moved around, so Doris once joked about her father as being a rolling stone.
However, on one occasion as they worked as tenant farmers in a field, Doris was seen by a young man who thought she was a boy because of the overalls and hat she was wearing, He soon changed his mind upon meeting her and on April 19, 1936 Lillian Doris McCoy was married to Riley Jay Cox. She told him that all she wanted in life was a home in one place to settle down and raise a family. Well, that's exactly what she got!
Jay purchased a piece of property in Mosheim, TN and built a small two-room house. And in a very short time came their first child. Then other children followed, and their little house wasn't large enough for their growing family. So, Jay, the carpenter, got his hammer and other tools and went to work. In fact, neighbors claimed they knew when another child was coming because Jay was making an addition to the house. Eventually, there were six children, 3 boys and 3 girls: June, David, Lynn, Mona, Sherry and Gary.
They worked very hard to raise their children with values and morals, always teaching them to care for other people. Doris was a devoted wife, and mother, often sacrificing things for herself to meet the needs of her family. She was always frugal with the family's money. For a few years she raised strawberries to sell to supplement the income of their growing family. She always raised flowers and had a garden, from which she would can and freeze fruits and vegetables for the family. She was known for her cooking abilities, especially her fresh baked cakes and those wonderful chocolate brownies with marshmallows, which she often baked for friends and family. She also made nice dresses for her little girls and, as they grew, instilled in them the ability to sew, embroider, cook and garden.
Doris was always active. Even when in school she was captain of her basketball team. Later in life, she continued by playing with her children. Getting out and playing ball with them on a regular basis.
As well, she ensured the education of her children. This is recounted in the story of her making an 18 on a math test when she was in the third grade. That grade didn't go over too well with her parents who both had served as teachers at some point during their lives. Her dad started helping her with her math and soon she was at the top of her class. This remained with her as an example of the importance of helping ones children learn. Many years later as her children grew she retained her ability to do math and was able to help them learn algebra. Furthermore, she delighted in helping them learn.
Doris was a woman of mild spirit, but she wasn't afraid to state her thoughts. She was kind, and caring of others. She never wanted to put anyone out or inconvenience them always insisting to pay her own way. She always put others first in her life. She did this in her service to Jehovah, by helping others to learn the truths in the Bible. In fact, one brother and sister that Jay and Doris studied the Bible with said that they treated them like their children, and they thought of them as their parents.
Doris was very thankful for her rich spiritual heritage. It began even before she was born probably about the turn of the last century with her great uncle, Burl Henry. Burl was a circuit minister of the Baptist faith, serving churches in Claiborne and Union counties. But on one occasion, Burl took a trip to Pittsburgh and while there heard a man named Charles Russell speak on the Bible. These words rang with the sound of the truth. After studying Brother Russell's writings and researching his own Bible, he too began preaching and teaching it in the churches he visited which lead to a debate between he and another minister that lasted over a period of six weeks. The local college officials served as the judges of the debates and Burl Henry was voted the winner, after which the congregation voted to keep Burl as their minister. The Baptist Church became a congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. That same building still serves as the Kingdom Hall for the Tazewell congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses today. (However, next month the congregation will be building a new Kingdom Hall in Tazewell, to support continued growth in the area after years of use of the same original building.) Burl's sister, Lydia McCoy was Doris' grandmother. This spiritual heritage has been passed down all the way to Doris' grandchildren.
Doris always cherished and loved her spiritual family and loved spending time with them in the field ministry. She benefited from the example of many faithful ones that camped on her father's property while spreading the truths of God's Word the Bible, such ones as the Cantwell family, Frank Kamer, Evrett Henry and others. Later, the Grimmett and Clark families encouraged Jay and Doris to progress spiritually and to make their dedication to Jehovah.
Doris enjoyed many years of good health, with a strong drive to care for herself. This strong drive was exemplified in August of 2000 when despite suffering a stroke she was able to regain her strength and proudly take care of herself again. She might not have been able to support the congregation or ministry as she once had but her faith remained strong. She continued to care for herself until the last few days of her life, never complaining during these last few days. At this time she found comfort in the cards, visits, and care provided by family and friends.
Doris will be remembered by her brothers and sisters, and family as someone they all loved and will cherish forever. They look forward to welcoming her back in the paradise that Doris so longed for and wanted to see. Her greatest hope would be that all would love Jehovah, recognize his son Christ Jesus as their redeemer, and look forward to the fulfillment of the promise found in God's word at Revelation 21:3,4.
Revelation 21:3,4.
3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: "Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away."
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