About Bette Cox Elizabeth G. "Bette" Cox grew up in Florence, South Carolina, in the heart of the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. She attended the University of South Carolina at Florence, now Francis Marion University. In 2006 she completed the coursework from UCLA-Davis and received a Certificate as Oral Historian. She has two children and two grandchildren. She and her husband Tim Cox opened a business services company, Executive Services of the Pee Dee, Inc. in 1986. A lifelong citizen of Florence, Bette has been an active worker for conservative causes for many years. Bette currently writes a regular newspaper column titled "Family Memories." Articles tell stories of her life growing up in Florence, or recount interviews she has done with others about their lives growing up. She was the host of "Talk With Bette," a weekly radio talk show on WOLS-1230 AM in Florence for several years. Bette is an active member of Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Florence, South Carolina where she served as church pianist for a number of years, retiring from the music ministry in 2006 to devote more time to serving in other capacities. She devotes several days a week to volunteering for an international missionary organization, OM Ships, which opened an office in Florence recently. A Bible student and teacher for over thirty years, speaking, teaching, and writing many articles and Bible study guides, Bette's special interests are healing and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. She formerly wrote and published a devotional newsletter, Esther's Petition. Click on the link to read the current issue, now on-line. Developing a special interest in genealogy several years ago, Bette has traced her father's family tree back to the early 1700's in South Carolina. She enjoys investigating the history of Florence, South Carolina, the town and county she grew up in, and interviewing other people who grew up in the area. Bette has spoken about the importance of preserving life stories to dozens of civic groups, social clubs, genealogical societies, and family gatherings. A natural outgrowth of Bette's interest in genealogical research, the Family Memories Division of her company assisted a number of families to preserve their life stories, from full length biographies to special occasion memory books. An avid reader as well as writer, Bette has authored several family biographical articles, several humorous short stories, one full-length mystery novel and one online humorous serial mystery novel. She also writes several blogs. Click on the links on the Home Page to read some of these. Bette has been a grassroots volunteer for a number of conservative Christian and political causes. Some of Bette's State and Community Activities include: Florence County Citizens in Action, 2002 - Present State Board of Education, 12th Judicial Circuit Member, 1997-2000 South Carolina Commission on Women, 1995-1997 Crimestoppers of the Pee Dee, Inc., Past Board Member Political Activities: Presidential Elector, 6th Congressional District, 1996 First Vice Chairman, S. C. Republican Party, 1996-2000 Secretary, Florence County Republican Party, 1992-2000 Active Campaign Volunteer for: George W. Bush for President, 2000, 2004 David Beasley for U.S. Senate, 2004 Forbes 2000, Steering Committee Member for Florence County David Beasley for Governor, 1994, 1998 Bob Peeler for Lt. Governor, 1994, 1998 Strom Thurmond for US Senate, 1996 Bob Inglis for US Senate, 1998 Hugh Leatherman for State Senate, 1994, 1997 Jim McGee for SC House, 1998 Campaign volunteer for many other city and county candidates from 1988 to present Return to Home Page

About Tim Cox Tim C. Cox was born and raised in Kingstree, South Carolina. He was a graduate of Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. He had one daughter, one granddaughter and one grandson. At the age of 5 Tim developed diabetes, and by the time he was in his 20's he had lost his vision from diabetic complications. Soon thereafter he lost kidney function also.   A successful kidney transplant (a kidney donated by his mother Ora Lee) returned Tim to a more normal lifestyle. He then finished his college education at Francis Marion University. In 1984 he and Bette were married, and in 1986 they established Executive Services of the Pee Dee, Inc. Diabetes eventually began to deteriorate Tim's transplanted kidney, and in 1989 he received a successful double transplant of kidney and pancreas at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.   Both transplants were working well right up until Tim's untimely death from a heart attack in December 2006.  Included among many of Tim's accomplishments in his lifetime were the following: Awards for Community & Political Volunteer Service: James B. Edwards Award, SC Republican Party, 1998 Florence County GOP Volunteer of the Year, 1993-1995 WBTW Giving Your Best Award, 1991 Who's Who in American Business, 1990's South Carolina Handicapped Citizen of the Year, 1988 Employer of the Year of the Handicapped, 1988 Florence Handicapped Citizen of the Year, 1988 Adam Fisher Award, SC Chapter of American Diabetic Association, 1981 Jaycee of the Year, Kingstree Jaycees, 1979 Outstanding Jaycee in South Carolina, 1978 Community Activities: Florence County Citizens in Action member Member of Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church Carolina Transplant Foundation, Founder/Executive Director The UP Club Transplant Support Group, Founder McLeod Regional Medical Center Advisory Committee on Diabetes Crimestoppers of the Pee Dee, Inc., Board Member, Fund Raising Chairman American Diabetic Association, SC State Board of Directors American Cancer Society, Williamsburg Co. Special Events Chairman The Kidney Foundation, Williamsburg Co. Chairman Kingstree Jaycees, Former Vice President Advisory Committee for Youth and Special Events, SC Diabetic Association Committee on Computers for the Physically Handicapped, Chicago, Illinois Pee Dee Computer Club, Founder and President Active Campaign Volunteer for: David Beasley for U.S. Senate, 2004 Forbes 2000, Steering Committee Member for Florence County David Beasley for Governor, 1994, 1998 Bob Peeler for Lt. Governor, 1994, 1998 Strom Thurmond for US Senate, 1996 Bob Inglis for US Senate, 1998 Hugh Leatherman for State Senate, 1994, 1997 Jim McGee for SC House, 1998 Many other city and county candidates Other political activities: Executive Committeeman, Florence County GOP, 1997-2002 Florence County Elephant Stampede Organizer/Committee Member, 1994, 1996, 1998 Florence GOP Convention Committee, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 Delegate to SC GOP Convention 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004 Return to Home Page