Sandra “Sandy” McMillan Cox died peacefully and went home to be with the Lord, on July 8,2018 in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 69, at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital.

Sandy was born on August 16, 1948 in Decatur, AL to Waldon and Hattie McMillan. She graduated from Decatur High School in 1966. She was a dental hygienist when Randy was young and also worked in the Decatur, Scottsboro and Hollywood area.  She later graduated from Calhoun Community College in Decatur, AL with an Associates degree in drafting. She worked at Dishman and Smith in Decatur, AL for many years and enjoyed her career, which in the beginning used her skills as a manual draftsman and then progressed to computer aided drafting.

After living most of her life in Decatur, AL, she married Jack Cox, an Assistant Principal in Pinellas County Schools in Largo, FL in 1998. She then moved after marrying Jack to Largo, Florida, Sandy began working for an architectural firm as a computer draftsman. The couple retired after several years in Largo, FL, moving to Fayetteville, GA to be near her son, daughter in law and grandchildren.

Sandy was an accomplished artist and often painted historical buildings from the Decatur and North Alabama area. She was also very accomplished at pastels and drew beautiful portraits of family, friends and celebrities. She enjoyed bowling, a pastime she shared with Jack for as long as she could. She was passionate about history, especially Civil War history and pursued writing about the war, specifically about the effect in North Alabama. She was an active and dedicated member of the Central Park Baptist Church in Decatur, AL and most recently at Heritage Christian Church in Fayetteville, GA. She also sang in the choir at First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GA. She was a faithful volunteer at Heritage Christian Church with the Awana Ministry, while her grandchildren attended. She also was a faithful volunteer with God’s Eyes Ministry. She was a member of the “Primetimers” Life Group and Bible Study, where she and Jack enjoyed their fellowship and support for many years.

Sandy was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt.  She loved her son and grandchildren tremendously. She also maintained a close relationship with her sister and niece in Alabama after her moves to FL and GA. She fostered long distance relationships with her classmates from Decatur High School and former co-workers from her career in Decatur. Sandy was always thought of as being “full of life” and put everything into her relationships with others, most importantly with her relationship with Jesus.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Jack Cox, of Peachtree City, GA, son, Randall Blake Ryan, daughter in law, LeeAnne Ryan, grand son, Blake Radcliff Ryan, and grand daughter Kathleen Victoria Ryan, all of Peachtree City, GA, sister, Carol Joyce McMillan of Decatur, AL and niece, Shannon Hopkins of Madison, AL. She is preceded in death by her father, Waldon Wade McMillan, formerly of Florence, AL and Hattie Beasley, formerly of Decatur, AL.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for Sunday, July 15, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Heritage Christian Church in the main sanctuary at 2130 Redwine Road, Fayetteville, GA 30215. The service will be co-led by Steve Geyer, former Pastor of Heritage Christian Church and Brian Kaiser, of God’s Eyes. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Sandy’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to God’s Eyes, Non-profit organization in Peachtree City, GA at God’s Eyes Inc. 825 Highway 74 South, Suite 105, Peachtree City, GA and www.godseyeinternational.com. Friends may visit with the family the service. The family would like to thank hospital staff at both Piedmont Fayette Hospital and Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and her doctors for their care and dedication during her illness.