Eugene "Gene" Cox

COX, Mr. Eugene "Gene" - age 92, passed away, Sunday, January 10, 2016 at Waterford Oaks Senior Care. Family hour 10:00 AM Friday, January 15, 2016 at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 113-123 Wessen St., with funeral service commencing immediately at 11AM. Dr. John D. Tolbert, Officiating. Family and friends will assemble at the church 10:00 AM Friday. Mr. Cox will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 268 N. Perry St., and may be viewed from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday. Mr. Eugene (Gene) Cox was born June 4, 1923 in Verona, Mississippi, to the late John and Cora Cox. He departed this life on January 10, 2016, after a brief illness. Eugene confessed Christ at an early age. He received his formal education at Verona High School in Mississippi. He served his country in the US Army during World War II. After the war he moved to Cincinnati, OH and later relocated to Pontiac, MI. Mr. Cox was united in holy matrimony to the late Barbara Garling Cox on December 1, 1951. Two sons were born from this marriage, Eugene Brian Cox and the late Cabot Eugene Cox. Eugene has been a faithful member of Trinity Missionary Baptist Church since the early 1950’s, when he joined under Rev. Richard H. Dixon. He sang bass in the Sanctuary Choir and Men’s Chorus; drove the church bus as part of the Bus ministry; was a member of the Men’s Fellowship; and served as a Trustee. In 1996 he was named Trustee Emeritus under the leadership of Dr. Robert E. Bailey. Eugene was employed by the City of Pontiac where he worked in the Water Maintenance Department for 38 years. He completed Barber School and opened “Our Barber Shop” in 1956. He maintained this business until the 1990’s. Eugene also started a sewer cleaning business called “Our Electric Sewer Cleaners” of which he managed until failing health prevented him from working. In baseball, he was affectionately known as Gene. He loved playing and managing baseball. He played with the Cincinnati Crescents in the American Negro League before locating to Pontiac in 1947. Once in Pontiac, Gene continued to play baseball. While most of the praise was earned for his managing abilities, he was named Class A’s MVP in 1958 for his efforts on the field. His accomplishments with “Cox’s Clippers” in the Class A Adult League and the “Little Clippers” in the Pontiac Little Leagues were known by sandlot enthusiasts throughout the state. In 1979 the Detroit Tigers honored him at Tiger Stadium for 30-plus years of participation in amateur baseball in the state of Michigan. Eugene was quiet hero. He motivated and influenced many young men through baseball during their formative years. Eugene leaves to cherish his memory his devoted son, Eugene BrianCox of Pontiac, MI; sister, Cora (Richard) Baker of Detroit, MI; nieces, Lori Williams of Pontiac, MI, Kathi M. (Harold) Evans of Rochester Hills, MI, Maedell (Wayman) Howard of W. Bloomfield, MI, Doris (Richard) Gibson of Farmington Hills, MI, Jill Perry of Detroit, MI; nephews, William A. Garling, Jr. of Seattle, WA and Richard J. Garling of Desoto, TX; extended family, niece, Karen Lane Wilson of Pontiac, MI, special friends, Hattie Mathis, Jamila Kai Mathis of Shelby Township, MI, and many other relatives and friends. Mr. Cox was preceded in death by his parents, John and Cora Cox; wife, Barbara Garling Cox; siblings, Bessie Cox Williams, Jerry Cox, Mary Cox Baker, John Cox, and Birdie Cox Seals; and son, Cabot Eugene Cox .

Eugene "Gene" Cox

June 4, 1923 - January 10, 2016