Lillian Cox

Lillian Ann Talley Cox

It is with deep sadness that the family of Lillian Ann Talley Cox shares the news of her passing on January 24, 2026, in Rye, NH, at the age of 81.

Born in Conway, SC, on June 27, 1944, to Martin Edward Talley Sr. and Orian Virginia Ferrill Talley, Lillian spent her earliest years in Georgetown, SC, near Pawley’s Island, cementing her lifelong love for the beach and for seeing the breeze blow through the sea oats. After Virginia died in Lillian’s early childhood, Martin moved with Lillian and her older brother, Eddie, to Mobile, AL, where he worked for International Paper Co. Martin married Mary Alice Raley in 1956. Along with her daughter, Mary Paule Hennies, they welcomed Janice and John to their blended family.

Lillian attended the University of Alabama, where she earned her degree in Social Work. She was on campus during George Wallace’s unsuccessful Stand in the Schoolhouse Door and President Kennedy’s order to engage the Alabama National Guard in June of 1963. She spent her early adult years working in child protective services for the city of Atlanta. At the wedding of a family friend, Lillian met the man who would become her husband of 54 years, Charles Findlay Cox of Atlanta, and they married in August 1969 at All Saints Episcopal Church on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. Their daughter, Talley, was born in 1975; along with Charles’s older son, Eric, they resided in Marietta until they moved to Cumming in their retirement years. Professionally, Lillian worked in the insurance industry for more than fifty years as a claims adjuster and was awarded the Claims Adjuster of the Year by the Atlanta Claims Association during her long career. By the time she fully retired in the summer of 2025, she was independently licensed in most of the Southern states and was known to be a fierce negotiator by her colleagues and the insureds for whom she advocated.

All who knew Lillian were blessed by her magazine-worthy Southern table settings, delicious gourmet meals, and her beautifully wrapped presents under the Christmas tree. Nothing made her happier than having beloved friends and family gathered around her formally set dining table--laughing, eating good food, and talking about good food. As part of the tribute to Lillian, her family invites you to share pictures and stories from favorite meals shared with Lillian and Charles by emailing them to Talley (talleycwesterberg@gmail.com) so that these memories can be compiled for her service.

Lillian was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 54 years, Charles Findlay Cox, her brother Martin Edward Talley Jr. (Eddie), her step-sister Mary Paule Hennies Dildy, her nephew Tony Talley, her step-mother Mary Alice Talley, and her parents. She is survived by her ‘sister’ cousin Jamie Bushardt Caviness of Collinsville, VA, her sister Janice Talley Pope of Boone, NC, and her brother John Fletcher Talley of Birmingham, AL; her son Eric Benjamin Cox and daughter-in-law Debbie of Weaverville, NC; her daughter Talley Cox Westerberg and son-in law Glen of the Seacoast of NH; her four grandchildren; and all of her Talley family nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, February 26, at 10 a.m. at McDonald Family Funeral Home in Cumming, GA, with a graveside burial service for Lillian and Charles immediately following at Sawnee View Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to the Humane Society of Forsyth County (https://www.forsythpets.org/donate/) where she adopted her beloved Jojo, the dog of her heart in her final years.

The service will be live streamed on our website beginning at 945am the day of the service.