Mary Rachel Cox

March 19, 1935 - October 4, 2019

IRMO—Mary Rachel Cox, 84, of Irmo, passed away on Friday, October 4, 2019, surrounded by her three children. Rachel dedicated her life to serving others. Perhaps her greatest joy outside of her family was the years she spent teaching kindergarten at her neighborhood church in Charleston, SC. Rachel’s kind and caring manner inspired children to learn academic basics, and she led by example to make sure they learned important life lessons. She extended that teaching to the Sunbeams, a Baptist preschool group that focused on Christian teachings and missions. Rachel found other ways to serve others, such as helping elderly friends and neighbors with everyday needs and always being available to support her church and extended family with meals and a willingness to listen. Most people who met Rachel knew immediately how special she was. She lived her faith and values in a gracious and authentic manner. Rachel exuded compassion and tolerance, and it was hard not to feel more peaceful after talking with her or being around her. Her children will tell you that the best lesson they learned from their mother was to do the right thing, even when no one is looking. Rachel’s faith was an integral part of who she was, and she cherished her church community. She always found comfort in the hymns, something that continued even when she could no longer attend church. One of her favorite gifts was a boxed set of the Gaither Family’s songs, and it provided her an endless amount of joy in the past four years. Rachel is survived by her children, William D. Cox, Jr., Les Williams, and Marjorie Cox Hardin; grandchildren, Celeste Back, Brittany Buchanan, Parker Hardin, and Deepmala Ford-Williams; great-granddaughter, Meredith Back; sisters, Peggy Williams and Sandra Ivy; and brother, Maurice Williams. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert Leslie Williams and Nettie Winifred Mozingo Williams; her husband of 59 years, William Donald Cox, Sr.; seven siblings, Pauline, Leslie, Coleman, Albert Jr., Jarvis, Carroll, and Arnold. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church Missions Fund, c/o of Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church, 6952 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212