WILMINGTON — Swanee Lanier Cox joined her husband, Milford Cox Sr., in heaven on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. She was born on June 28, 1923, in Randolph County, N.C., to the late Charles Ray and Venie Latham Lanier.
She spent most of her life in Thomasville, N.C., where she graduated from high school.
She was a high school basketball player and played slide guitar in a band.
She married Milford in 1941, just before Pearl Harbor. While Milford served in the Pacific, she also did her duty working in the shipyards in Newport News, Va. After the war, she worked alongside her husband at the Pit Barbecue in Thomasville.
Swanee retired from Maro Hosiery, where she spent the majority of her career in the accounting department. Swanee was a faithful member of Carolina Memorial Baptist Church.
After retirement, Swanee relocated to Wilmington, N.C., where she was a member of Northside Baptist Church.
Surviving are her five children, Milford Cox Jr. and Glenda, Michael Cox and Lois, Sandy Cox McVickers and Tom, Patsy Cox Horton and Richard, and Kim Cox Foster and Robert. She was beloved “Nanny” to 11 devoted grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Swanee was preceded in death by her siblings, Gaye Widdows and Coey and Harold Lanier.
A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Andrews Mortuary, Hampstead. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the service.
Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Eastern NC Chapter, 714 Champ Davis Road #1, Wilmington, NC 28411; or the charity of your choice.