Obituary of Hattie Mae Cox

Hattie Mae Cox, born Hattie Mae Clayton was the eldest child of Hattie Magnolia Oglesby Clayton and Ralph Clayton, Sr. Hattie was the granddaughter to Jane Hill Oglesby and Ace Oglesby. Hattie was the great granddaughter of Kizzie Hill, a slave and her Indian scout. Hattie Mae entered the world, September 27, 1917, the year prior to the end of World War I. She was born in Athens, Georgia and accepted Christ as her personal savior at Shiloh Baptist Church. Hattie’s siblings were Josephine “Josie”, Ralph Jr. and her surviving sibling, Barbara J. Woodard. Economic conditions in the south leading up to the depression was especially challenging for many African Americans. As a result, for better job opportunities and improved standards of living, between 1915 -1970 more than 6 million blacks migrated out of the south to cities across the northeast, known as “the great American Migration.” Young Hattie was no exception. Hattie migrated to Philadelphia, PA in 1936 where she lived with her aunt and cousins until she could send enough money to her family so they could join her in the north. Jobs during the depression were hard to come by and many northern blacks were limited to jobs as cooks and domestics. But enterprising Hattie took jobs as a cook and excelled at her trade. She was widely popular with employers and friends. She was active in the union when it was dangerously to do so. During World War II, Hattie worked as a welder at the Philadelphia Shipyard to support the war effort. She was also musically gifted and was offered opportunities to sing professionally. But what Hattie mostly desired was a family. She was fiercely known for her love and loyalty to family. While living in Philadelphia, Hattie met the young and handsome Charles Emory Cox in the early 1940’s. After Charles returned from the Army, they married in 1948. Eight years after marriage, they welcomed their first child, Charles Everette, followed by their second son, Bruce Maurice and daughter, Joyce Denise. Not only did the 1950’s and 1960’s produce turbulent times during the height of the Civil Rights Era, but for Hattie and Charles, their focus became their children and extended family. Hattie was unable to complete formal school in the south. Hattie took night courses in Philadelphia while caring for her husband and children. She was popular in high school and won an award as a school senator. Most importantly, Hattie was popular with her family; her siblings, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, neighbors, friends and stray animals. Family would travel far and wide for Hattie’s famous dinners where everyone was stuffed to capacity. She was able, up until her 98th year of life to trace the family history 7 generations on her mother’s side and 6 generations on her husband’s family history. She was a living ancestry.com. After the death of her husband in 1992, Hattie was even more devoted to family. In January 2016, Hattie discovered she had terminal breast cancer. Even during her illness, she took the time to call family and friends to let them know how much she loved them. She leaves behind, her sons Charles and Bruce; daughter, Joyce; sister, Barbara; nieces, Dyan, Terri and Sandy; nephew, Anez; grandson, Charles; granddaughter, Elizabeth; daughters-in-law, Natalie and Karen and son-in-law, Mark. Her last words were to have her children remind the family and friends that she will always love them.