Rafaela Chapa Cox

Rafaela Chapa Cox, 74, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt, passed away peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 27, 2012, following an extended illness. She was born on March 17, 1938 in Brownsville, Texas and was the much-loved daughter of the late Augusto and Zulema Chapa and adored niece of Lola Hernandez. Rafaela or “Fela” to her close friends was a graduate of San Benito High School and had studied at Texas Southmost College. Fela spent her adult life as a devoted Air Force wife to her husband Newell (Sonny) E. Cox, Jr. and as a doting Mother to her four sons. She was a member of Jesus, Our Risen Savior Catholic Church where she devotedly worshiped. Fela was also a long-time employee of Wal-Mart in Spartanburg where she worked as a greeter, bringing smiles and joy to all that passed by her; always recognizable by her smile and her kind and gentle spirit. This giving spirit also spilled over to her hobbies where she was an accomplished seamstress and cook, often making clothes for the children of friends or meals for other families, just to help out. Whether volunteering at the Base Thrift shop, in the community, or sending forget-me-nots to loved ones, she always thought of others first. Fela was preceded in death by her loving husband Sonny and her cherished son Tom. She is survived by her three sons Newell Cox of Commerce City, CO, Elliott Cox of Centennial, CO, and Bruce Cox of Fayetteville, NC; and siblings Mary, Ceasar, Virginia, August, Josie, Ray, Della, Eva, Oscar, Luis, Ciro, Mary Helen and Raul. Fela was also a proud grandmother and is survived by her grandchildren Michelle and Bradley, and her great grandchildren Devon, Savannah, and Donnovaughn. She was loved by all and will be dearly missed. The family will receive friends during a visitation at 10:00 AM Saturday, August 4, 2012 at the JM Dunbar Funeral Home in Roebuck, prior to the funeral service which will begin at 11:00 AM. A private interment ceremony will be preceded by a rosary which will be said in the chapel immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Research Foundation, Michael Stern – Health; www.parkinsoninfo.org.