Odessa Jeanette (Gladden) Cox

Odessa Jeanette Gladden Cox, age 88, of Sanford, NC, died Saturday, March 27, 2021, at Sanford Health & Rehabilitation Center.

She was born in Lee County, NC on July 17, 1932 to the late Thurn Evan Gladden and Lola Brafford Gladden.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband William Edward “Ed” Cox and sons Danny Steven “Steve” Cox and William Thomas “Tommy” Cox; and two brothers Billy and Samuel Gladden.

Odessa was an active member of Flat Springs Baptist Church until her health declined and member of the Joy/Ora Bridges Sunday School Class and Ann Graves/Pearl Johnson Women on Mission ladies mission group.  She and her late husband operated Sugar Lake near Pittsboro for many years and she enjoyed being a Security Officer at the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Visitors Center.

She is survived by her loving grandchildren Crystal Cox Stratton and husband Ron of Sanford, Matthew Cox and wife Lauren of Sanford, Will Cox and Hunter Cox of Broadway, Brannon Cox, Trey Cox and wife Nancy all of Sanford; and great-grandchildren Nathan and Ava Stratton Truett and Thomas Cox, and Josiah and Grayson Cox.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, March 31, 2021 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm on the front porch of Flat Spring Baptist Church with the funeral service following at 1:00 PM with Dr. Gary McCollough officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations, in Odessa’s memory, to the Cameron Boys Camp in care of Baptist Children’s Homes, PO Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361 or The Kentucky Mission Trip in care of Flat Springs Baptist Church, 4148 Deep River Road, Sanford, NC 27330.

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