Nancy Lee Cox Thomas

Nancy Lee Cox Thomas, wife of the late Howard Henry Thomas and a beloved mother and grandmother, passed away Jan. 16, 2024. She was 90. Mrs. Thomas was born Aug. 2, 1933, in Middleborough, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Ernest LeRoy Cox and Muriel Gwendolyn Gillis Cox. She attended schools in Boston and Pamplico, graduating from Pamplico High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Winthrop College. She taught high school briefly in Gastonia and Florence before becoming a fulltime wife and mother. Mrs. Thomas was a devout Christian. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Pamplico, serving the church for more than 50 years as a Sunday School teacher, youth group leader and Vacation Bible School leader, among many other roles. She served for a number of years on the Board of Trustees of Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, a ministry near and dear to her heart. She was also a board member of the Christian Learning Center of Florence and remained one of its staunchest advocates and most steadfast supporters. Her life was characterized by an unwavering and selfless devotion to her family. Her wisdom and unconditional love showed us what it truly means to love and be loved, in a way that will shape our family for generations to come. She is gone from our physical presence, but we pray her love lives on through us. Mrs. Thomas is survived by her children, Lynne Thomas Meriwether (Vince Sittnick) of Fayetteville, N.C., Kay Thomas Packett (Robert Hearne) of Florence and Anna Lee Leavitt (Dana) of Pendleton. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Cameron Cox Campbell (Michael), Molly Thomas Packett, Brooks Thomas Leavitt and Lee Howard Leavitt. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her sister, Betsy Cox Powell, and her brother, Ernest LeRoy (Sonny) Cox Jr. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, at Woodside Cemetery in Pamplico, directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home. The family will receive visitors at her home in Pamplico following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, P.O. Box 1178, Greenwood, S.C. 29658.