Darlene W. Cox, 83, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Sunday, October 12, 2025, at her residence.
Memorial services will be held 1 PM, Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, Georgia, with Dion Smith and Holly Conner officiating. Interment will be private. The family will greet friends from 11:30 until 12:30 prior to the services at the funeral home.
Mrs. Cox was born February 26, 1942, in Macon, Georgia, to the late Charles W. Williams and the late Louise Greek Baughan. After graduating high school, Mrs. Cox attended nursing school. She worked for H.R. Kaminsky & Sons and also cleaned for Dr. Hammond and others. She loved spending time with her family and will be dearly missed.
She is survived by her children and their spouses: Billy Smith, Jr. & Robin of St. Augustine, Florida, Jeffery Smith & Tracy of Wray, Ray Smith & Victoria of Palatka, Florida, and Vonda C. Jones & Chris of Savannah; grandchildren: Kayla Smith, Brandon Smith, Dakota & Alexis Hervigsmith, Holly & Casey Conner, Heather & Kendall Lacey, Dion & Regan Smith, Dustin & Kristan Smith, Lizz Smith, Katelynn Smith, Brianne & Marcus Paulk, Layla & Cody Campos, Mason Benton, Kirsten & Dawson Posey, and Jadyn Jones; great-grandchildren: Addison Conner, Avery Conner, Camren Blount, Tres Ellison, Londyn Ellison, Landen Gaines, Caden Smith, Rylea Childers, Elanor Hervigsmith, Emilee Smith, Callie Smith, Ila McGowan, and Wesley Smith; two sisters: Shirley Wright of Ocilla and Anita Rosenthaul of Gulfport, Mississippi; as well as several nieces and nephews including a special nephew, Jack Healy. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands: Cecil Calvin Cox and Billy Smith; four children: Tina Marie Smith, infant twins: Teresa Smith and Charles Smith, and Felicia Bayard; a great-grandson, Austin Maddox Smith; and a sister, Nadine Stowe.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.