- Date Of Birth: May 3, 1920
- Date Of Death: August 30, 2013
- State: West Virginia
GAMBRILLS, Md. a” Freda Florence Dennison Cox, 93, formerly of Smithburg, WV, died August 30, 2013, in an assisted living facility in Gambrills, Maryland, surrounded by her family, who loved her very much. Freda was born May 3, 1920, and raised in WV, the daughter of the late Velta Walker and James Lee Dennison. Her husband, James Maynard Cox, whom she married December 28, 1938, preceded her in death October 3, 1994. She is survived by two daughters, Barbara Cox Shavatt (Joseph) of Annapolis, MD, and Sandra Cox Shrader (Roy) of Gambrills, MD; one son, James David Cox (Denise) of Waldorf, MD; one brother, Harold Dennison of Baltimore, MD; seven grandchildren, Karen Shavatt (Bill Reese) of Stevensville, MD, Joseph Edward Shavatt (Lori) of Bowie, MD, Kristen Shavatt of Odenton, MD, Monte Shrader (Sharon) of Middletown, MD, James Dallas Cox (Diane) of Chesterfield, VA, Jeromy Cox (Chrissy) of Fredericksburg, VA, and Nicholas Cox of La Plata, MD; 14 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, two sisters, Flora Dennison Rudd and Hilda Dennison Griffin King, and three brothers, Jimmy Dennison (infant), Robert Eugene Dennison and Dexter Lee Dennison, preceded her in death. Mrs. Cox was very active in her community. She was president of the Smithburg Grade School PTA and president of the Doddridge County High School Band Boosters. She was a lifetime member of the West Union VFW Auxiliary, where she served as president of the auxiliary and as district president. She helped found the over-80 party, which the auxiliary is still hosting yearly. Freda was very involved with the Pythian Sisters “Sunshine Temple” 21 in Salem, WV, which she joined in 1946 (which later became Hope Temple 71, Fairmont, WV), went through all of the offices and became a grand chief of the WV Pythian Sisters in 1969-70. She went on to become a supreme representative and attended meetings all over the United States. Freda helped found the Doddridge County Historical Society and served as the president for 10 years (1979-1989) and as treasurer for 10 years (1994-2004). She was very dedicated to the Historical Society and worked to get the old Smithburg train depot under their care. She faithfully took people through this historical site and was very proud of it and the West Union Museum and other sites that were restored and preserved in the county.
