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Lifelong Celina resident leaves legacy of volunteerism, positive attitude
Bennie G. Cox
By Gayle Maxson
Special to the Celina Record
Celina lost one of its prominent citizens on July 12 when Bennie G. Cox died at the age of 97.
She had long been a civic leader and active historical advocate and benefactor for the city.
Other relatives such as the Roberts, O;Brien and Terry families came to Celina early and were valued members of the community.
Bennie G. Terry married L.N. Cox, Jr. of Celina on December 15, 1935 and they continued to live in the Celina area where they were to later have a large farm and raise sheep and cattle. Bennie was active on the farm driving the tractor and trucks and helping buy, shear and show the sheep along with her being an active member of the Junior Campfire group. Her husband was a Scoutmaster in Celina.
Benny was a charter member of the first Celina Garden Club organized in the 1940s. The group was active in the beautification of Ousley Park and planting climbing roses along the chain link fence surrounding Old Celina Cemetery and many other service projects.
She was also involved when the Celina Garden Club reactivated in 2002. She was gifted in the knowledge of growing and arranging.
Bennie was an active member of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce in Celina when there were no men involved with the Chamber of Commerce. She was also a longtime member of the Inter Se Club and was helpful in acquiring historical markers for the city.
She was a longtime volunteer for the Celina Historic Downtown Square beginning in the late 1940s. She was also involved with the Bicentennial Celebration for Celina; the Celina Area Heritage Association and was a benefactor of the Union Cemetery and Old Celina Cemetery.
In 1976, June Lair, Jane Huddleston and Bennie Cox published the book “Reminiscences of Celina”, a historical account of the town history, businesses, schools, family histories, pictorial history, organizations and clubs, churches and cemeteries and homes in Celina.
Bennie had a special place in her heart for children. She loved visiting them and always had candy in her purse for them. At home she was known for taking down her floor-length hair to show her nieces and nephews and then showed them how she put it up. She sewed dresses for children in her family and for needy children in the community.
She was a caretaker for members of her family in need. She took care of her brother-in-law, W.J. McAdams for 19 years after he was stricken with two cerebral hemorrhages in 1946. She also took care of her older sister, Mary Alice Skaggs, who died at the age of 100 in 2009.
Her family were original members of the Church of Christ in Celina when it was organized in 1886. Her grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Gearhart, Sr. was deacon and bookkeeper of the church. After his death his son, William Jefferson “Bill” Gearhart continued keeping the books. These original records are still in the Cox estate. She was been an active benefactor to the church.
Remembering Bennie G. Cox, she was a hard worker, but kind and gentle and she did not mind taking a stand. She will be greatly missed.
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