Wilford Cleveland “Will” Cox, 1939-2021

Wilford Cleveland “Will” Cox, 82, of Mineola passed away on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021 in Longview. He was born on Jan. 6, 1939 in Redland to the late Roy Cleveland Cox and Frances Marie Radney Cox. 

Will was a member, head usher and trustee of Harvest Acres Baptist Church. He was an auto mechanic for Mineola Packing and a parts specialist at Mineola Motor Supply and loved restoring classic and antique cars. As a young man he worked for Sugar Creek Foods until they left Mineola in 1980. He served in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1964 and was stationed on one of the ships involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Frances Estes; and aunts, Bertha Oglesby and Lura Counts. 

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nelda Cox of Mineola; daughters, Tracie McCoy and her husband, Brian of San Antonio, Amye Cox of Hawkins and Teresa Thomas of Corsicana; three grandchildren, Austen Walls, Samantha Walls and Stayton Thomas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Beaty Funeral Home in Mineola. Graveside service was held on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 at Roselawn Memorial Gardens at 2 p.m. with Rev. David Burcham conducting.

J.W. Carter III, Alvin Hall, Donnie Bushnell, Phillip Staggs, Kevin Hudson, Billy Crowley served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Jason Thornton, Brian McCoy, Paul Harris, Robert Pierce, Jared Scoggins and Jorge Zavala.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Harvest Acres Baptist Church or the Gideons.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Harvest Acres Baptist Church or the Gideons.