"God is still in control."  On Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, the Lord whispered and called my wife, our mother, my GiGi, my sister, our aunt, our niece and our friend, Darlene Cox Thomas home.  She was born May 8, 1959 in Sparta, NC, to the late Piper Cox Jr., and the late Willie Hairston Cox.  She was a graduate of G. W. Carver High School in Fieldale, VA and a 1981 graduate of Ferrum College in Ferrum, VA, with a major in Early Childhood Education.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Lewis and Amanda Hairston and her paternal grandparents, Piper and Martha Cox, Sr.

She was united in marriage on June 13, 1981 to Marshall Junior Thomas.  To this union they were blessed with one daughter, Marsha DaNae and one son Darick Marshall.  She was a loving mother and grandmother.

She was baptized and joined Meadow Christian Church at an early age.  She was a dedicated and faithful worker in many different organizations of the church.  She was a Pittsylvania County Community Action Headstart Teacher for 18 years.  She loved her students as her own and really cared about their educational developments as well as their development as a person.

She leaves to cherish her memories:  her husband, Marshall J. Thomas, of the home; one daughter, Marsha DaNae Thomas, of Martinsville; one son Darick Thomas, of Axton; one grandson, A'Mari Darick Thomas, of Axton; one sister, Annette Cox, of Martinsville; five aunts, Linda Hairston, of Charlotte, NC; Betty (Howard) Sears, of GA; Frances McMillan and Helen Evans, of Independence, VA; and Rose C. Maxwell, of Galax, VA; two nephews, Clayton Cox and Justin Cox, both of Martinsville; one niece, Claneshia Cox, of Martinsville; two great-nephews, and one great niece of Galax; her step-mother, Adrene G. Cox, of Martinsville; two step-sisters, Doretha (Cecil) Jones, of Ridgeway; Carodene Spencer, of Martinsville; four step-brothers, Daniel Gilbert, of Martinsville; Steve (Mary Lou) Gilbert, of FL; Benjamin (Chris) Gilbert, of Johnson City, TN; and Kenneth (Chasity) Gilbert, of Collinsville; one god-sister, Tiffany Millner, of Greensboro, NC; two heartfelt sons, Tony Johnson, of Fairfax; and Jermaine Kidd, of Penhook; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 28, 2010 at 1:30 PM at the Pentecostal Assembly Building on Carver Road with Rev. John Adams, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Meadow Christian Church Cemetery in Martinsville, VA.

A ministry of service provided by Hines Funeral Services, Inc.