Patty was born in Roanoke on January 11, 1938 to the late Edith Bourne Cox and Macon Adams Cox of Lynchburg. She grew up in Lynchburg and had lived in Salem since 1964.
Patty was eccentric and very entertaining with her funny sense of humor. Gardening was always her passion and she was an extremely knowledgeable horticulturalist.
She attended E.C. Glass High School, Randolph Macon College and VA Western Community College. After earning her associates degree, she became a medical secretary for the medical director at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
In her school days, Patty was an A/B student, a celloist, and cheerleader. She played cello for her school and the state orchestra. As a dancer and actress, she performed in numerous plays. She was a secretary for the school council and a Red Cross swimmer.
Before being diagnosed with MS, Patty was very active with many interests. As an avid club tennis player, she won numerous trophies. For ten years, she was an award winning ballet and tap dance teacher for Floyd Ward. Patty enjoyed intricate needlepoint and cruel projects. She made exquisite dresses for her young girls. She was also an avid bridge player and garden club member. She was a Cub Scout Den mother and a member of the PTA.
Volunteering and fundraising played an important role. She created arts and crafts for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salem to raise money for the church. Cultivating plants for fundraising was a passion.
Patty is survived by her children; Macon Heald Fox and Suzanne Adams Brown; her former husband; John Hayden Hollingsworth MD; grandson, Phillip Adams Brown; nieces Cynthia Cox Lane, Ruth Cox Choinier and nephew Edward Lee Cox.
Preceding her in death are her brother William Edward Cox; former husbands Thomas Hubert Fox Ill and their daughter; Chiswell Bourne Fox; Eugene Francis Brown and their son Tazewell Adams Brown.
She will be laid to rest in the columbarium beside her son; Tazewell at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salem.
The family requests for any donations to be made in Patty’s memory to the National MS Society or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salem, Virginia.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com
