Kay Beevers Cobb was an exceptional woman who led an exceptional life. She went to be with our Lord on May 26, 2023.
First and foremost, she loved God and was a devoted follower of Jesus. After that, she placed her family and others above herself. With a servants heart, she lovingly cared for her family and shaped her community. Family members who are missing her each day include: her husband, Larry D Cobb; her daughters Barbara Cobb Murphy (David) and Elizabeth Cobb Wright (Andrew); 7 grandchildren, Megan Shelton (Ryan), Erin Murphy-Roede (Erik), Robert Debusk, Lauren DeBusk-Mannson (Matthew), Luke Wright (Mallory), Michael Debusk, and Matthew Wright (Ashtyn); and 3 great-grandchildren, Avery Shelton, Ella Shelton, and Kaitlyn Shelton. She is also survived by her brother, Kelly M Beevers, Jr (Martha) of Cleveland, MS and nieces Kristi Gill (Lee) and Kerri Beevers.
Anyone who knew her could sense her love of people. You could always count on her for lively conversation in the aisle at Wal-Mart, the Post Office, or anywhere around town in Oxford. She volunteered for years teaching the 2 year old Sunday school class at First Baptist Church. She loved choral music, and was a member of several church choirs over the years, the last being at the First Baptist Church in Jackson, MS. She even played piano and organ for a small church in Texas in the 1970s. Fifth Sunday lunches at FBC Oxford are fondly remembered, as her signature dessert was the coveted cherry cheesecake that was always completely devoured. At family gatherings, everyone would enjoy her culinary delights such as coconut cake, pecan pie, and home-made ice cream.
Another side of Kay was that of a well educated, independent woman with a productive and exciting career. Born in Cleveland, MS on February 28, 1942, she attended Cleveland High School where she was the valedictorian, drum major, and played basketball under the coaching of the legendary Margaret Wade. She majored in Home Economics at The W, and met Larry Cobb, the love of her life, during her last years in college. They were married in December of 1962 and almost immediately moved to Japan, where Larry was stationed as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Kay spent her time teaching English, singing in an Air Force Wives sextet, and doing Water Safety Instruction. Back in the USA and raising two young daughters, Kay decided to further her education with a law degree from University of MS which she completed in 1978. Some highlights of her illustrious career were: private practice attorney in Oxford, Director of the MS Prosecutors College, senior attorney for the MS Bureau of Narcotics, and MS State Senator. The culmination of her career was serving 8 years on the Mississippi Supreme Court; first as a Justice and later as a Presiding Justice, retiring in 2007.
In her later years, she was a woman of prayer and loved being with her family. Eventually, she lost her spoken words to Alzheimer’s, so conversation, which she loved so much, became more difficult. But she loved to be right in the mix of life, watching and listening to everything going on around her… and she had such a twinkle in her eye and vivid facial expressions, that those of us who knew her best could tell exactly what she was thinking. She was a woman of light and of love, compassion and service, encouragement, contentment, and grace. She was dearly loved, and will always be remembered.
