Vela Cox

Vela Cox, 77, of Savannah, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2025, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on May 24, 1948, in Winona, Mississippi, to James Philley and Clara Oliver Philley, Vela spent the last 30 years of her life in the Savannah area. She will be remembered for her joyful spirit, her love of playing video games, and her enjoyment of watching television—especially the Game Show Network. Vela also had a fondness for trying her luck at gambling, always embracing life with a sense of fun and adventure.

Vela was preceded in death by her husband, Dorris Cox; her stepson, David Cox; her grandchildren, Eddy Flores and Kyle Gustavus; her great-granddaughter, Bobbie Jean Beavers; her foster parents, Anna Mae and Alex Davie; her sister, Ann Hammock; her brothers, Dewey Philley, Arthur Philley, Alvin Philley, and James Philley Jr.; and her brothers, Robert Davie and William Davie.

She is survived by her children, Sandra Flores (Ed) of Savannah, TN; Susan Shaw (Rich) of Harriman, TN; Amanda Rogers (Frank) of Wyoming; and Robert Rose (Tonya) of Covington, KY. She is also survived by her stepchildren, Cindy Cate of Paris, TN; Chrissy Scharneck of Kankakee, IL; and Diana Alexander (Tom) of Diamond, IL; her sister, Lula Mary Vincent of Goldsboro, NC; her grandchildren Joseph Rose, Bonnie Cox, and Bubba Cox; as well as 36 other grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

Services celebrating Vela’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2025, in the chapel of Associated Family Funeral Home in Adamsville, TN. Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon and continue until the service time. Burial will follow in Hardin County Memory Gardens.

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