DENMARK -- A faithful member of the Bethel Park Chancel Choir in Denmark for 40 years, who was also a dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteer, was honored on Nov. 18 with the planting of a tree.
An "Autumn Glory" maple tree was planted in loving memory of Jackie Cox at the back of the Bethel Park United Methodist Church sanctuary, bearing witness to the life of the beloved member of the church as well as the Denmark community. Bethel Park's choir members will pass the tree each time they enter the church for services or choir practice.
The church flowers on Sunday -- a fiery arrangement of leaves from the Sugar Maple in Cox's yard -- was done by Mimbee Baker.
"She (Jackie Cox) grew an abundance of hybrid tea roses, healthy columbine, tall snapdragons, blue scilla, gerbera daisies. The bea.jpgul flowers that she lovingly tended were truly a song to God," Baker said. "She shared the bounties of her flower garden so freely; often we enjoyed them as our alter flowers at worship or at weddings and other celebrations."
Baker said Cox "loved nature and planted wonderful specimens that called attention to God's handiwork."
"In the fall, we enjoyed the bea.jpgul yellow Sugar Maple that she brought from the mountains to plant in her yard. In the spring, we were enchanted with the white dogwood that was entwined with blue wisteria. At Christmas, we were cheered with the huge front-yard conifer that became a Christmas tree complete with lights. Jackie's love of nature truly made her life a song to God," Baker said.
Boo Poole, Bethel Park's choir director and organist, said in a tribute composed by all the choir members, "I am thinking that there could not be a better name for a tree planted in Jackie's memory than the name 'Autumn Glory' for it was in the autumn of her life that Jackie continued to make her life a song to God. There was "Autumn Glory" as Jackie went about her last days with purpose and love. Jackie didn't let the difficult circumstances slow her down. For example, Jackie made her life a song to God by working with Meals on Wheels each week."
Poole said Cox rarely missed her Meals on Wheels route even when she didn't feel well.
"During this time, Jackie created a project to bring extra funding for more individuals to receive Meals on Wheels. She began placing jars around in our church building. She printed on the outside of the jars, 'Pennies for Food.' We still fill these jars with our change. Each time I see our jar in the choir room, I think of Jackie. Jackie's life was a song to God and a life of 'Autumn Glory.'"
Recalling what a special person Jackie Cox was, college student Jessica Williams of Denmark said, "When I think of Ms. Jackie, I automatically think of a lady. She was the perfect example of a southern lady; bea.jpgul, soft spoken, intelligent, and she always made cookies and flower arrangements when I came over. She was my mentor through confirmation at church, and we had long conversations about life. She truly had a great relationship with God and gave me a lot of guidance."
T&D Correspondent Laura G. Carlson can be reached by e-mail at Laura@carlsonclan.com or by phone at 803-793-3336. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.