Catherine Campbell Cox

Born in Elizabeth, Louisiana on April 30, 1922, she was the eldest of three children born to Luberta Fisher Campbell (Died 1968) and Walter Campbell (Died 1927). She graduated from Moton High School in Orange, Texas in 1941.

She came to California in July 1945 to look for work and reside with her younger sister Edna and cousin Alvie. She started working at the Army base in Oakland, Ca. in 1945.

She met the love of her life, James Curtis Cox Sr. in 1949, they married on March 26, 1950.

James Sr. Made his transition on September 7, 1980.

Catherine's church history goes back to her birth where she was christened in St. James AME Church in Elizabeth, Louisiana.

In 1958 Catherine and her husband James Sr. purchased their first and only home in Richmond, California and shortly after they became members of Highland Presbyterian Church. On April 15,1973 the facility, originally constructed by Highland became the newest predominately African American church in the Presbytery - Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church. She was the unofficial "mother" of the church for many years.

In 1963 James Sr. and Catherine adopted their son James Curtis Cox Jr. (Nedra) their only child. She stopped working and stayed home to raise him full time until he started school. She always had a dream of attending college to get a degree. She started out at Contra Costa Junior College in 1969, received an AA degree on June 16, 1972. Catherine then transferred to UC Berkeley where she graduated with a Bachelor degree in English in 1974. After receiving her Bachelor's degree she went back to work at the Army base. She worked a few more years, finally retiring in 1987. When Catherine retired she would often visit nursing homes to sit, talk with and listen to the residents while keeping them company. She wanted to make sure those who were in Nursing home/assistant living facilities were not forgotten.

Catherine C. Cox was a loving grandmother (Granny) to her only grandson Joshua James Curtis Cox (Cicely), granddaughter Alexandra Williams (Nedra), and six great grandchildren, Jakai Cox, Jordan Cox, Jurnee Cox, Jurmanee Cox, Juelz Cox, and Londyn Dunn (Alex).

Catherine Cathy as she was so lovingly called by her close friends) was an avid bridge player most of her adult life right into her 90's. She entered into several tournaments, through out California and on cruise ships traveling to Greece and many other places, receiving a number of trophies.

Catherine and her husband also loved to dance (waltz) and go to the Kappa Alpha Psi black & white formal balls. You could find Catherine and her husband on the tennis courts having a great game of tennis as well. She also loved to bowl in her spare time. She was active in exercise programs at the YMCA into her late senior years and was a health guru - a distributor of Nutrilite vitamins and products and making fresh carrot juice for everyone to drink. Catherine lived a full and happy life.