Wilhelmina Smith Cox

Tabor City, NC

Wilhelmina Smith Cox, 93, of Tabor City, NC died Sunday, September 11, 2022. She was born October 27, 1928 in Olyphic, NC to the late Reverend Harvey Lay Smith and Irene Gore Smith.

In addition to her parents, Wilhelmina was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, William Cleveland Cox, Jr., and her sister, Annell Smith Brindell of Wilmington, NC. She is survived by her two children, William C. Cox III and wife Gayle of Little River, SC and Linda McFadyen and husband Duncan of Wilmington, NC; and her sister, Lumina Smith Soles and husband Jackie of Shallotte, NC. She is also survived by her four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Cally Elaine Markovsky and husband Coult with daughters Ella Claire and Anna Sophia of St. John’s, FL; Cleve Cox IV and wife Jenna with daughter Willa Jay of Shallotte, NC; Duncan McFadyen II and Tavis McFadyen, both of Wilmington, NC.

Wilhelmina graduated from Tabor City High School and attended Flora McDonald College in Laurinburg, NC. She was a kind and generous person. “Willie” loved to cook and bake, and she showed her love through her food. Her kitchen was a favorite stop for friends who came to fly airplanes, helicopters, and model airplanes with her husband. Countless relatives and friends were comforted by her famous pound cakes and pies. She also enjoyed growing and arranging flowers and tending her vegetable garden.

Wilhelmina’s second home was Olyphic Baptist Church, which she served faithfully in numerous roles throughout her long life, including many decades as its treasurer. The Church honored her in 2002 with “Wilhelmina Cox Day.”

The family is deeply grateful to the staff of Coastal Pointe Memory Care in Shallotte, NC for the love and compassionate care shown to Wilhelmina over the past 18 months—particularly in the last few weeks.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at Olyphic Baptist Church followed at 11:00 a.m. by a memorial service. Serving as pallbearers will be Clifford Long, Roberto Sandoval, Stuart Henniford, Roy Gore, Bennett Wilder, and Floyd Norris; honorary pallbearers are Eddie Stanley, Phil Huggins, Mack Henniford, David Vaught, and Randall Cox. Internment will immediately follow the service in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to Olyphic Baptist Church.

A service of Inman Ward Funeral Home and Crematory.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wilhelmina Smith Cox, please visit our floral store.