It was a warm summer dayon September 26, 1931, in the quiet settlement of Sung Corner, Acklins, whenElijah and Malcolm Cox welcome their brand-new son and daughter into theirfamily. Twins! They proudly gave the namesStephen Garnet and Syble Cox. Theyjoined their siblings that preceded them in this union. Unfortunately, Syble became very ill shortlyafter birth and die. Stephen persistedand live on.
When he became of schoolage, Stephen attended Acklins All Age School. Even though he tried very hard, he was not very good at hand-writing andenglish, but excelled in arithmetic. When 1945 rolled around, Stephen was about14 years old. In those days it wasnormal for a boy to leave school at that age and was considered a man and hadto work the field full-time or look for a job. Stephen left school.
In 1948 the United Statesof America sought agriculture workers and Stephen took this opportunity toobtain gainful employment. In those daythey called it “The Contact”. Even thoughhe worked like a mule, this gave he the opportunity to travel to several statesin America. While he was there, hebonded with many of his home-boys, other Bahamians and Caribbeannationals. Like many other immigrantsworks, he was tempted to find an American gal, marry and settle down inAmerica. But he remained fucus on hiswork and brought himself and his earnings back to the Bahamas. He traveled back and fort between Bahamas andAmerica for about 8-10 years before he called it quits.
While traveling back andforth from America, he kept his love eyes on a beautiful young girl in SungCorner named Myrthella Miller or “Lil Myrt”, as she was sometimes called. Even though he was a sharp-cut and handsomeguy himself, he was a bit nervous to approach Myrt. Eventually, he gathered his nerves and toldher and her father that he like her with good intentions. She liked him too. On July 15, 1959, they got married and movedto New Providence. Between 1960 and 1965this union produced 3 children, 2 girl and a boy: Sharon, Zelma and StephenJr.
After moving to Nassau, heworked at various jobs until October 1964 when he and his wife got jobs as acaretaker and maid, respectively, at Cistern Cay, Exuma. They worked and partly reared their family onthat island. While he worked, he madetime to grow many fruits and vegetables and went fishing. He was a master farmer and a jack of alltrade. He knew how to do a little bit ofplumbing, masonry, carpentry, mechanic and boating. He did it all…fixed anything. Even though the island is very small, he mademany friends, rich and poor…all loved and respected him. If you were to mention “Cistern Cay” toanybody, they would ask it you knew Steve Cox. In 2014, his boss, colleagues and other Exuma islanders honored him forhis 50th anniversary on the job. Cistern Cay was sold a number of times and every time it was sold withSteve Cox. He resided and worked on thatisland for 57 years, until his death.
Steve started to developcataract in both of his eye from 2019 and it got worst as time passed. He travelled to Nassau on February 26, 2021to have this problem fixed because he was not able to see the beauty of islandas before. He saw Dr. Sweeting and wasscheduled to have surgery on April 26, 2021. But, on April 25th he had a stroke, which landed him in thehospital for 7 days. After he wasdischarged and sent home, he became unresponsive and was readmitted to hospitalon May 18th. While in thehospital, he developed an infection in his lungs and stopped talking. He remained in the hospital for 2 monthsbefore he was discharged on July 19th and sent home. At this point he was showing good signs ofrecovery but became unresponsive on July 22nd and was readmitted tohospital again. After a day or two, hebecame responsive again but was diagnosed with infection in his kidneys. His family was notified that he had to betreated with antibiotics for 14 days in hospital. But on August 2, 2021 @ 1:56 AM he waspronounced dead.
Left to cherish his memories are his
Spouse: Myrthella Eliza Cox (dec.)
Son: Stephen E. Cox;
Daughters: Sharon K. Dames (dec.) and ZelmaJ. Bastian;
Grand-Children: LawrenceBastian, Demetrius Thompson, Indera Thompson (dec.), Zeron Bastian, JeremyHutchinson, Anthon Green, Stephon Cox, Brenden Cox and Stephen Cox III;
Great-Grand-Children: TyeciaAmbrose and Malik Thompson;
Parents: Elijah & Malcolm Cox (Both dec.);
Brothers: Wilbert (Lerlean), Granville(Tressie) (both dec.), David “Levi” (Diane), Rupert (Norma) and Harrington Cox(dec.);
Sisters: Eliza Taylor; Advilda Williams; Elizabeth Bowe (Dec.); MalcolinNouguez-Cox; Jucy, Lucy and Edna Cox (All deceased);
Nieces: Donna Lewis; Philena Cox (dec.); Peralie Night; FlorenceFerguson; Eloise, Monamae, Eileen, Karen and Pauline Cox; Dianne Dean; MariaChristie; Geraldine Lewis; Hilda Forbes; Princess Smith; Jackline Rigby;Theasmae Johnson; Halcy Dorsett; Nyoka Bethel (dec.); Bettymae Williams; UnamaeBonamy; Lydia and Sonia Bowe; Nina Nouguez; Davinia Ried; Malcom Cox; PatriceMurphy; Patricia Cox; Pamela Young (dec.); Thrilda and Zelda (both dec.) Cox;Donna Lewis; Wendy Kelly;
Nephews: Bishop Franklyn, Apostle Kelson, Cedric and Pastor Kenroy Miller;Ephraim McClain (dec.); Basil Taylor; Larry Bowe, Keno Moss; Prescott, Perrone,Paris, Perrone Cox; Jerome and Melvin Cox; and Stafford Forbes;
Other Relatives & Friends: Theophilusand Rollington Cox; Christine, Nadine and Portia McClain; Annie Horton; CarlasCarey & Family; Tyrone McKenzie & Family; Bridgit “Ven” Grant; ClintConyes & Family; Margaret Hanna; Camelo & Portia McCoy; Lucretia Rolle;Joseph, William and Sarah Rumage; Stanley & Jennifer Wallace; JennieHakannsson; Dean De Boer; Colleagues at Indigo Island; Exuma Cays Land &Sea Park.
