Helen Wills Shore Cox

Helen Wills Shore Cox peacefully entered into the immediate presence of her Lord and Savior on the evening of January 15, 2024, at her home.  She was 95 years of age.  She was born on March 30, 1928, to Rossie Steelman Shore and Annie Pearl Dobbins Shore.

Helen’s early life was spent in Yadkin and Iredell counties.  She graduated from Union Grove High School, Mars Hill Junior College, and Appalachian State Teachers College.

In 1946 she met and fell in love with her husband of 48 years, Eugene (Gene) Marshall Cox while at Appalachian.  They were married in 1948 and moved to Dobson in 1950 when Gene completed his degree.  In 1958, Gene got a job in Winston-Salem where they settled to raise their three children. 

Helen always worked in some capacity.  She taught school for two years, worked at Washington Mills, at Winsalm Business College, at First Presbyterian Preschool and Waughtown Baptist Preschool with her main profession as a homemaker.  She canned and froze vegetables from her garden, ensured the children had all they needed, and gave support and care to Gene.  She also gave much support to her grown children as well as watching over the grandchildren.  She attended and was very active at Oaklawn Baptist Church until her health declined.

Helen sang in the choir for nearly 40 years, directed the children's choir for many years, and helped with Bible School. She was instrumental in getting the Wednesday night meals started and she volunteered in the office for several years. She was involved with many committees at the church and she held Bible studies for the neighborhood children and adults in her home. She was truly a servant of the Lord.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother, Benjamin Shore.

Surviving are her three children: Ann Farthing, Billy Cox (Kathy), Ross Cox (Leslie); seven grandchildren: Ross Cox, Jr. (Sharon), Mary Anne Rhydderch (Dave), Ricky Farthing (Emily), Grey Farthing (Lindsay), Lura Tang (Hao), Ashley Washam (Scott), Drew Manuel; eleven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Helen is known for her strong faith in Jesus Christ.  She shared her faith with everyone she met in various ways: with words, with food, with a smile or with a hug.  She did have a contagious smile and loving hugs! She took care of her family, her friends (which were many) and strangers alike. She is greatly missed. 

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday January 20, 2024, with Rev. Dr. Mary Miller officiating, at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home, 3315 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment following at Deep Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Yadkinville NC.

Memorials may be made to Mount Carmel Methodist Church Children’s Fund, 4265 Ebert Road, Winston-Salem, NC  27127. 

The family would like to thank Trellis Supportive Care for the kind and compassionate care shown to their mom and grandmother.