Evie and Herb Cox

As children, Evie’s and Herb’s families moved several times both finally settling in Emporia, Virginia, where Evie and Herb graduated from Greensville County High School.  Herb will proudly tell you that in 1965 he married his high school sweetheart.  Evie had completed her studies at Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia (today University of Mary Washington) with majors in psychology, English and history.  Herb was entering his final year at Virginia Polytechnical Institute (Virginia Tech) and in 1966 received a degree with a major in metallurgical engineering.  He was also commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army.

Evie worked for one year at Margaret Beeks Elementary School in Blacksburg teaching the school system’s first special education class--students ages 5 to 15 with a variety of learning difficulties. This experience became a steppingstone for Evie and her career.  With classes at Lynchburg College (University of Lynchburg) in the master’s degree program for reading specialists on her resume, Evie held a variety of positions with school systems in Virginia and North Carolina, many ones of leadership.  They included reading teacher, master teacher, supervisor of reading, director of middle schools, executive director of education, elementary and middle school principal, and interim regional superintendent.  Evie is especially proud of her tenure at Charlotte, NC’s Alexander Graham Middle School, and its national recognition in 2005 as a School to Watch, a competition offered by The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.

In 1967, Herb began a two-year tour of active duty in the 8th Infantry Division of the United States Army in Germany, the Coxes’ home until his tour ended two years later. Prior to entering active duty Herb had worked with IBM as a systems engineer.  Following his honorable discharge, the Coxes moved to Lynchburg where he again worked for IBM until 1978, when he joined Lynchburg Gas Company, a decision influenced by the Coxes wanting to raise their sons, Mark, and David in the Hill City.  Today their family also includes two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.

Herb’s career, like Evie’s, included a variety of accomplishments.  As corporate secretary & vice president of Lynchburg Gas he developed computer applications and designed and oversaw changes pertinent to payroll, marketing, customer billing and accounting, satisfaction, and relations. In 1988, he became Public Service North Carolina District Manager to Senior Vice-President, Eastern Operations of the Natural Gas Utility Company serving Central and Western North Carolina, and after that a consultant position on natural gas energy to Duke Energy Company. 

The Coxes retired in 2005 and built a home on four acres in Lottsburg, Virginia, beside the Coan River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.  They revamped a Southern Living design to allow for a more open floor plan and established a uniqueness for the house by building an exterior structure of concrete and steel. 

In addition to raising a family and actively pursuing careers, Evie and Herb developed other interests. When living in Lynchburg Evie played tennis on Boonsboro Country Club’s United States Tennis Association 4.0 team at Seabrook Island, coming in second place.  Herb could be seen on the tennis court and golf course.  He also belonged to the Rotary Club of Lynchburg and served as its president in 1987/88.

Herb, as a lifelong Episcopalian, has held a variety of lay leadership positions.  Evie has joined him in fundraising events for the church.  They are known as founding members of the Northumberland Family YMCA, the first Y in Heathsville, Northumberland County.  Herb served on the YMCA Advisory Board as Vice President.  Evie is a member of the Northumberland County Friends of the Library Board and with an interest in gardening has over the years belonged to different garden clubs.

Activities during retirement have included common interests in boating, cycling, entertaining, traveling, fishing, tennis, golf, and holiday gatherings with family and friends. Evie loves yoga and reading, while Herb wants to be on a boat fishing, or taking a photograph to share with others.  They look forward to living at Westminster Canterbury close to their Lynchburg son and family, connecting with former friends and making new friends.