The Hemingway community suffered a great loss on Sunday, August 25, 2024, when Mrs. Nina Cornelius Lyerly Cox, widow of the late Marion Cullen Cox, went to be with her Lord and Savior.

Mrs. Nina was born in Hemingway,  one of 9 children of the late Carley L. and Axley Cox Lyerly.  She attended Hemingway schools.  She learned responsibility by caring for younger siblings, helping with chores, working on the farm, and preparing meals.

She and Marion had been married for over 46 years.  During her life with Marion, they reared 6 children.  While rearing their children, they attended Rehobeth Pentecostal Holiness church twice on Sunday and nearly every Wednesday night where she was a member for approximately 75 years.  In addition to serving as a Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Nina participated in and took responsibility for many other functions of the Rehobeth Church.

Mrs. Nina continued her passion for reading and studying God's Word up to the last months of her life.  She loved to watch the Gaither videos featuring gospel music, NASCAR racing, and old westerns.

Nina also enjoyed supporting her husband Marion's love of NASCAR racing.  Together, they participated in the sport all across the Southeastern U.S.  where Marion was a highly respected race car owner and builder.

Nina was the bright spot in any room she entered and always lifted up those who were going through difficult times with her sweet words of comfort and wisdom.   In addition, she was an outstanding cook, with one fault, she seldom measured anything but went by instinct.  Her husband Marion would invite people to a meal at the house at the drop of a hat and without consulting the cook.  However, Nina always had something good to share from the Cox kitchen.  Many famous NASCAR figures such as Cale Yarborough and Dale Earnhardt sought out her fried chicken that she would often carry to races.

Mrs. Nina is survived by her sisters, Martha Harmon and Juanita Orvin and her brothers, Nick Lyerly and Jerry Lyerly.  Also surviving are 3 sons: Randy Cox, Mike (Sandra) Cox, and Dowie (Hilda) Cox as well as 2 daughters: Patricia (B.H.) Rader and Dianne (Dan) Tanner.

Mrs. Nina is also survived by 9 grandchildren:  Evelyn Kinney, Elizabeth (Brian) Price, Tara (Michael) Todd, Daniel Tanner, Ben Rader, Monica (Wes) Dowdy, Leslie (Brian) Goins, Joshua Cox and Emily (Curtis) Jones.

She also leaves behind 15 great-grandchildren:  Alex Truelove, Olivia Kinney, Caleb Price, Carter Price, McKinley Tanner, Cullen Tanner, Weston (Fiance, Mattison Poston) Todd, Addie Grace Todd,  Colt Dowdy, Lillie Faye Dowdy, Sara Beth Goins, Brieley Goins, Webb Goins, Madrey Goins, and Luke Jones.

She also leaves behind many, many individuals who grew up calling her Aunt Nina, though often she was not related.  Also, left to rejoice in her homegoing are scores of friends and neighbors.

She was predeceased by one daughter, Edna Faye Cox; brothers Sonny Lyerly, Jim Lyerly; 2 sisters Mary L. Alexander and Jenny L. Myers; and one daughter-in-law, Janice Poston (Randy) Cox.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28th at Morris Funeral Home, 416 N. Main St, Hemingway, SC. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, August 29th at 1:30 p.m. at Rehobeth Pentecostal Holiness Church, 1573 Cow Head Rd, Hemingway, SC 29554.  The service will be streamed on FB live on the Rehobeth PHC Facebook page.

Interment will be at Old Johnsonville Cemetery 846 S. Georgetown Hwy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rehobeth Pentecostal Holiness Church, 1573 Cow Head Rd, Hemingway, SC 29554.