Teresia Ann Cox

Teresia Ann (Leath) Cox, age 54, of Haywood County, was present with the Lord on November 23, 2016 after passing away at Northside Forsyth Hospital in Cumming, Georgia. Immediately following a time of visitation on Monday, November 28, 2016, 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. in the Lea and Simmons Funeral Home, funeral services will be conducted in the chapel with Bro. Jerry Wilson officiating. Burial will follow in Zion Methodist Cemetery. Teresia, a charter member of Fellowship Bible Church of Jackson, was preceded in death by her parents, Elbert James Leath and Mary Virginia Leath of Haywood County. She is survived by her husband, Bill Cox of Brownsville now living in Cumming, Georgia; their son; William Walter Cox IV (Rebekah) and grandson, Myles Walter Cox of Gainesville, Georgia; their daughters, Rebekah Ann Fish (Justin) of Dawsonville, Georgia and Jennie Downing Cox of Cumming, Georgia; two brothers, Jerry Wayne Leath (Judy, who is present with the Lord) of Covington, Tennessee and Michael Claude Leath (Tamila) of Savannah, Tennessee; and nephews and nieces. Teresia, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, will be remembered for her passion to sacrificially serve others, especially children. As a devoted teacher in Weakley, Haywood, and Madison counties, Teresia gladly extended her school day when the need arose to provide additional tutoring, or even go to a child’s home to meet their family’s human needs. That same passion for service was given ample opportunity while she resided with her family in Nicaragua, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. As a resident of León, Nicaragua for nearly four years, Teresia provided care for orphaned, abandoned, and abused children through an international NGO she previously helped establish in the nation’s second largest city. In addition, she developed a ministry to the Special Needs School of León resulting in capital improvements to the facility and increased educational resources for students and teachers. Furthermore, Teresia identified single mothers with children attending the Special Needs School who lived in extreme poverty to provide for them basic human needs which at times included building homes for the homeless. For her work with special needs and at-risk children, Teresia was honored at a public ceremony by Nicaragua’s Ministry of the Family. While in Nicaragua, Teresia, along with her husband, Bill, represented the U.S. Embassy in Managua as consular wardens to the Department of León under two U. S. Ambassadors. At a town hall meeting at the U. S. Embassy in Managua in 2008, Ambassador Robert J. Callahan recognized Teresia for providing humanitarian aid to flood victims in León. After returning to the United States and moving to Georgia, Teresia was employed by Forsyth County Schools for placement at Riverwatch Middle School which is among “The 50 Best Middle Schools in America.” According to condolences sent, the “Riverwatch Middle School family will be lost without Teresia who was loved and adored.” According to one “forever grateful” co-worker whose child was taught by Teresia, “Teresia’s devotion to and love for my daughter gave her the confidence to be successful in math.” Pallbearers include Jared Leath, Rodney Leath, Chuck Leath, Sloan Leath, William Barnhart, and Justin Barnhart. In lieu of flowers, tax-exempt donations can be made to the NGO Teresia served with in Nicaragua while providing care for at-risk children: El Ayudante, Inc., P.O. Box 10805, Jackson, TN 38308.