Lona Mae Cox, 88, of Galax died January 18, 2020. A well-known local artist, she was born April 2, 1931 in Akron, Ohio to Franklin Glenn and Daisy Garner Cox. She grew up in Cement, Oklahoma until moving to Galax at age 10.

She attended Coal Creek School and Radford College graduating with a degree in Business Administration. She was elected the Commissioner of the Revenue for the City of Galax in 1986 and served until her retirement in 1996.

Her talent in art became her true passion. Her egg-tempera wildflower paintings are in personal and Corporate collections from Pennsylvania to Florida and beyond.

She enjoyed and found inspiration from time spent on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Her paintings of Galax leaves are reminders of home and family. Her Cape Lookout Lighthouse painting was a sold-out fund raiser in 1997.

"I attempt through my paintings to share the serenity and beauty of the woodlands, wildflowers and commonplace objects".

Survivors include her much loved brother Charles and wife Martha; her dear nieces Cathy Elkin, Sarah and Jon Boyer, and Beth and J. J. McGee. Her great nieces and nephews: Laura and Paige Elkin and Andrew, Owen and Allison McGee.

The funeral service will be held Thursday, January 23, 2020 in the First United Methodist Church at 12:00 PM with Rev. Mark McFadden and Rev. Richard Gregory officiating. Interment will follow in the Cox's Chapel Cemetery, Independence, Virginia. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until service time at the church.

Flowers would be appreciated or memorials to First United Methodist Church, 306 W Center St, Galax, VA 24333, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, 717 S. Marshall Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101; or a charity of your choice.