Mary Alice M. Cox, 95, of Clinton, passed away at home on August 25th after a short hospital stay. She was born in Clinton on September 19, 1930. Preceding her in death were her husband, Bennie L. Cox; parents, James S. and Gertrude McGhee; and brother, James A. McGhee.

She graduated from Clinton High School and Knoxville Business College. She was a member of Sinking Springs United Methodist Church.

After business college, she worked at Maxon Construction Co., Oak Ridge, and Union Carbide Nuclear Corp., Y-12 Plant, as a secretary for the engineer and chemist department heads. She took 10 years off to be a homemaker and be with her daughter. In 1966, she went back to work for the Clinton Courier News. She wrote and edited news, created lifestyle and church pages, wrote obituaries and feature stories, covered other news as needed, and took photos. Also wrote Senior Cuisine and published the cookbook, “The Recipe Box” for the Courier. She retired from the Courier after 28 years. After retiring from the Courier, she wrote for Senior Living Newspaper of Oak Ridge and proofread a monthly publication for the Tennessee Press Association in Knoxville. From 1962 to 1971, she led Girl Scout Brownie, Junior, and Cadette troops and served as troop organizer. Starting in 2005, she was the secretary for Norris United Methodist Church for four years.

She collected cookbooks and loved to cook and bake. Many of her recipes were published in “Southern Living Magazine.”

She is survived by her daughter, Leigh Ann, and husband, Stephen Payne of Clinton; brother, Eddie McGhee, and wife, Kay of Clinton; and several nieces and nephews.

Receiving of Friends will be from 1:30-2:30 PM on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at Holley Gamble Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at Norris Memorial Gardens officiated by Pastor Brandon Berg.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the Amedisys Hospice Care Team for their loving care and support.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

Holley Gamble Funeral Home is proud to serve the Cox family. www.Holleygamble.com.