Betty Cox
A Celebration of Life for Betty Cox, age 90, of Ruston, will be 2 p.m. Friday, January 6, 2023, in the Chapel of Temple Baptist Church in Ruston.
Officiating the service will be Dr. Reggie Bridges and Rev. Dale Oden. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston.
A visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Temple Baptist Church.
Betty was born on May 22, 1932, in Lecompte, and passed away peacefully at her residence in Ruston on Wednesday afternoon, January 4, 2023.
She was a faithful member of Temple Baptist Church and loved the Lord and her family with all of her heart.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Ludie Erwin Pittman; brothers, Fred Pittman, Guy Pittman, Jr.; and sisters, Inez Vercher, Lois Evans, and Margie James.
Betty met the love of her life, Jack Cox, while they were both attending Emmanuel Baptist Church in Alexandria, over 70 years ago. At that time, she was in training as a nurse and Jack worked in the lab at Baptist Hospital, also in Alexandria. They were married on August 8, 1953, and both continued to pursue their medical careers.
Betty worked as a nurse while raising their children as Jack was in medical school in New Orleans and then his residency in Augusta, Georgia. They moved to Ruston in 1962 and Betty devoted her life from that point forward to raising their children, developing her talents and hobbies with friends and serving the Lord.
She loved to gather with friends and was known for her gift of hospitality.
On many occasions, she would host showers for brides-to-be and new mothers. Betty and Jack were also known for hosting large fish fries for friends, and she was especially famous for her wonderful hushpuppies.
Her talent for china painting was also an outlet to gather with friends as they developed their skills and spend hours visiting as they painted. She loved to teach china painting and had ladies weekly in her home for lessons for many years. As an avid china painter, she hosted and organized countless china shows and has filled many homes with beautiful painted china.
Betty was also an avid quilter and loved to crochet and made crossstitch quilts. One of her favorite sayings was, “ Count that day lost whose low descending sun views from thy hand no worthy action done.”
She lived up to this saying as there was no wasted time from her mind or her hands.
Betty was a very faithful prayer warrior all her life. Though she was unable to be active in her last years, she devoted her time spent on her favorite little sofa to constant prayer for her family and friends.
Betty impacted countless people through her actions and prayers, and her legacy is cherished by family and friends as they celebrate her life.
She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Dr. Jack L. Cox, Sr., of Ruston; sons, Dr. Jack Cox Jr. of Ruston, Dr. Kenny Cox and wife Denise of Ruston; daughter, Karen Cox Czapla and husband Ron of Waterford, Michigan; grandchildren, Michael Manzione of Pontiac, Michigan, Jay Manzione of Indianapolis, Indiana, Bethany Cox of Ruston, Lane Cox of Ruston, Mallory Ross and husband Collin of Mandeville; greatgrandsons, Joshua and Canaan Ross of Mandeville; and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Special thanks from the family to Jenny Howard for her loving assistance over the past months, and to Allegiance Hospice for their compassionate services in her final week.
Pallbearers will be Lane Cox, Michael Manzione, Jay Manzione, Ron Czapla, Collin Ross, and Bill Cox.
Memorials may be sent in memory of Betty, to Temple Baptist Church, 1515 South Service Road East, Ruston, LA 71270.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www. kilpatrickfuneralhomes. com.
