Edgar Lamar Cox

Edgar Lamar Cox, Sr., of Johns, MS, died on Tuesday, November 28, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He was 84. Visitation will be 10:30am - 12:15pm on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, MS. Services will follow at 12:15pm in the chapel of the funeral home with burial in Johns Cemetery. Lamar was a basketball player, civil engineer, avid fisherman and hunter, master gardener, MSU Bulldog fan, and beloved "Poppy" to his 5 grandchildren. He was born on March 3, 1939, to Alton and Gertrude Cox of Johns, MS. He grew up in the Johns/Puckett area where he attended Johns School and then Puckett High School before studying civil engineering at Mississippi State University. After graduating from MSU, he began working for the Mississippi Department of Transportation and worked for MDOT until retirement. The last and largest project he oversaw during his engineering career was the building of the "Stack" overpass in Jackson. Lamar married Lonnie Frances Hollis from Ackerman, MS in 1963 and they recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. They and their children lived in Pearl while he worked at MDOT and until his retirement. He was an active member of Pearson Baptist Church in Pearl where he also served as a Deacon. After retirement, Lamar and Lonnie moved back to the Johns community where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, cheering on the Bulldogs, and spending time with his grandchildren. "Poppy" was well-loved by everyone who knew him for his gentle nature and the silly sense of humor that especially kept the grandchildren laughing. He will be greatly missed. The family would especially like to thank Dr. Lana Jackson for providing beyond-excellent care during the two years that Poppy was her patient. Also, many thanks are owed to Dr. Gina Jefferson and the doctors and nurses at UMMC, Select Specialty Hospital, and Laird Hospital. Survivors include his loving wife, Lonnie Hollis Cox; son, Marty Cox and his wife, Elizabeth; daughter, Tonya DeRuiter and her husband, Dean; sister, Sue Middleton and her husband, Jack; five grandchildren, Tyler Cox and wife, Reagan, Colton Cox and his wife, Ragan, Robert Cox, Presley DeRuiter, and Kinsley DeRuiter; he is also survived by his great aunt, Ina V. Pace. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alton Lamar Cox and Gertrude Huff Cox.