Fred "Marty" Martin Cox

It is with great sadness, combined with unprecedented memories of complete joy, that the family announces the death of Marty Cox, 64, of Kernersville, who died at home, surrounded by those who loved him, on Friday, March 29th, 2024.

He was raised by Grady Martin and Marie Ann Martin Cox, who instilled in Marty a love of family gatherings, beach trips, and baseball, a subject Marty felt he could always talk to his dad about. As a child, Marty enjoyed going with his father on Saturday mornings to receive matching flat-top haircuts before stopping at Sechrist's Country Store and getting a cold bottled drink. Marty had a special relationship with his mother, Marie, who stayed by his bedside after a severe bicycle injury as a child. Marie would make Marty his own uniform even before he was old enough to play organized baseball. One he claims he wore every day.

Marty graduated from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville and started a career in textiles in 1977. Given his ease with getting along and working with people, he eventually became a shift supervisor. Marty retired from Tyco Electronics as a Chemical Plater Group Leader. A lifelong "blue-collar" worker, Marty enjoyed working the 3rd shift, the camaraderie of his fellow workers, and the challenge of making the nights go back faster by making everyone laugh.

Marty met the love of his life, Penny Stigall Cox, in the summer of 1974 after his family moved to Taylor Estates. Marty and Penny began dating at ages 15 and 13, and Marty almost immediately became part of the Stigall family. Penny says Marty was loved and adored by her mother, Emma Stigall, and her aunts, Emma Jane and Minnie Katherine Stigall. From then on, the two never spent more than a day or two apart from each other. Their love is something you read about in books. They were married at Union Grove Baptist Church in Oakridge, North Carolina, in 1979.

Marty and Penny welcomed their first child the following year, Justin Andrew. Their daughter, Lauren Ashley, was born a few years later. Along with Penny, Justin and Lauren were Marty's world. He was a father who showed up for them in the biggest and smallest of ways. Justin and Lauren have hundreds of memories of watching Tarheel basketball with their father in the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and many stress-filled nights at home when the "boys in light blue" let a game get too close (Marty thought anything under 20 points was too close). Growing up, Justin, Lauren, and their friends would find Marty joining them to watch Monday night "wrasslin," and was a constant chauffeur to softball games and trips to Skate World. Penny and her children fondly remember Marty having the last word – always sweet and laced with humor.

Though he was passionate about sports, history, music and film, Penny remembers Marty talking constantly about his grandchildren, Violet Beth and Lorelei Billie. Even though they lived far away, Marty knew Violet's school's lunch menu. He would remind Penny every Friday that the grandbaby was getting "pizza and ice cream" that day. At the birth of Lorelei, Marty would go on and on about Lorelei's little hands and how sweet she was when they Facetimed.

Marty had a way with animals. He never met one who didn't love him. From Checkers the Pomeranian to Simone the Labradoodle, all of them sought his attention.

Many special people were in Marty's life, but he shared a deep love for Pastor Linda Smith. Pastor Linda was a friend of the family, loving Marty, Penny, and their children. Whenever Marty needed surgery, Linda would be at the hospital or at his home. Her love for him and his was something he always appreciated.

Marty was preceded in death by his parents, Grady and Marie Cox, and his sister, Katherine Cox Cotton.

He leaves behind his loving spouse and partner in all, Penny Cox, and their children, Lauren Ashely of the home, the Rev. Justin Cox (Lauren Pack), and grandchildren Violet Beth and Lorelei Billie of Suffield, Connecticut.

Siblings Lisa Cox Novak (who shares his love of the Pittsburgh Steelers), Brandy Cox Helton, and Autumn Cox.

There are also many special nieces and nephews: Daniel Cotton, Drake Hiatt, Bill Mock, Christine Mock Huntsman, Joy Stigall Prevette, and Matthew Mock.

A graveside service will be held at 3:30pm on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Bethel Methodist Church in Oak Ridge.

The family requests, instead of flowers, that you please consider donating to The American Diabetes Association.