Obituary for Ann Cox Cash
Ann Cox Cash, 83, of Lake Village, Arkansas passed away Sunday, June 19, 2022. A pillar of the southeast Arkansas community, Ann was born in Memphis, Tennessee on February 27, 1939 to the late Charlie and Myrtle Day Cox.
She moved with her cotton farming family to Redleaf Plantation near Lake Village at the age of five. It was there that she learned to not only love the land, but to appreciate the integral role water provided. It was that appreciation that would lead her to become one of the biggest advocates for water conservation in the state. Her mission to protect water resources led her to serve on the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and advocate for the Boeuf-Tensas Irrigation District. Ann married Don Cash 46 years ago, and the two managed businesses and farm partnerships together for many years.
In addition to her water conservation efforts, for many years, Ann was dedicated to the betterment of Arkansas' roads and highways. She was a member of the Arkansas Good Roads Foundation, and a fierce advocate for the project that would eventually turn U.S. Highway 65 into a four-lane highway from Lake Village to Pine Bluff. Over the years, she lobbied for state and federal funding for key transportation projects including I-69 and was appointed to commissions, including the Great River Road Commission by Governors from both sides of the political aisle.
As a breast cancer survivor, Ann also used her talents to advocate for breast cancer awareness. She was also an active and passionate member of the Episcopal Church.
She is survived by her best friend and husband of 46 years, Don Cash; three children, James D. “Rip” (Dena) Bilberry of Lake Village, Dr. Claire Price of Fort Smith, and Carol (Mark) Cummings of McGehee; grandchildren, Carla (Tym) Seymour, Charles Craig (Amanda) Bilberry, Cash Bilberry, Mark Allen (Hannah) Cummings, Jr., Cristen (Andrew) Cox, Bailey Price, Sophie Price, C.J. Dilly and Collin (Brittany) Ellis; great-grandchildren, Bennett and Bryce Ellis, Riley Cash Cox, Charlie, Anna Grace and John David Bilberry, Cadence, Warner and Ella Dilly, Bella, Emma Claire and Clara Seymour.
Visitation will be held from 5:00p.m-7:00p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Lake Village, AR. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Lake Village, AR with Rev. Laurie Steele and Rev. Billy Hawkins officiating.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Charles Craig Bilberry, Andrew Cox, Mark Allen Cummings, Jr., Bailey Price, Cash Bilberry, Scott Price, Tommy Turner, Tommy Turner, Jr., Phillip Jones, Bubba Hawkins, Steve Montgomery, Terry Alpe, Sam Dancer and Curt Rankin.
Memorials may be made to: Emmanuel Episcopal Church, c/o D.D. Gibson, 521 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Village, AR 71653; Arkansas Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72202 or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38105. The family expresses a special thank you to Dr. Joe Beck and his Staff for the care provided to Ann over the last 21 years.
She moved with her cotton farming family to Redleaf Plantation near Lake Village at the age of five. It was there that she learned to not only love the land, but to appreciate the integral role water provided. It was that appreciation that would lead her to become one of the biggest advocates for water conservation in the state. Her mission to protect water resources led her to serve on the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and advocate for the Boeuf-Tensas Irrigation District. Ann married Don Cash 46 years ago, and the two managed businesses and farm partnerships together for many years.
In addition to her water conservation efforts, for many years, Ann was dedicated to the betterment of Arkansas' roads and highways. She was a member of the Arkansas Good Roads Foundation, and a fierce advocate for the project that would eventually turn U.S. Highway 65 into a four-lane highway from Lake Village to Pine Bluff. Over the years, she lobbied for state and federal funding for key transportation projects including I-69 and was appointed to commissions, including the Great River Road Commission by Governors from both sides of the political aisle.
As a breast cancer survivor, Ann also used her talents to advocate for breast cancer awareness. She was also an active and passionate member of the Episcopal Church.
She is survived by her best friend and husband of 46 years, Don Cash; three children, James D. “Rip” (Dena) Bilberry of Lake Village, Dr. Claire Price of Fort Smith, and Carol (Mark) Cummings of McGehee; grandchildren, Carla (Tym) Seymour, Charles Craig (Amanda) Bilberry, Cash Bilberry, Mark Allen (Hannah) Cummings, Jr., Cristen (Andrew) Cox, Bailey Price, Sophie Price, C.J. Dilly and Collin (Brittany) Ellis; great-grandchildren, Bennett and Bryce Ellis, Riley Cash Cox, Charlie, Anna Grace and John David Bilberry, Cadence, Warner and Ella Dilly, Bella, Emma Claire and Clara Seymour.
Visitation will be held from 5:00p.m-7:00p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Lake Village, AR. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Lake Village, AR with Rev. Laurie Steele and Rev. Billy Hawkins officiating.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Charles Craig Bilberry, Andrew Cox, Mark Allen Cummings, Jr., Bailey Price, Cash Bilberry, Scott Price, Tommy Turner, Tommy Turner, Jr., Phillip Jones, Bubba Hawkins, Steve Montgomery, Terry Alpe, Sam Dancer and Curt Rankin.
Memorials may be made to: Emmanuel Episcopal Church, c/o D.D. Gibson, 521 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Village, AR 71653; Arkansas Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72202 or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38105. The family expresses a special thank you to Dr. Joe Beck and his Staff for the care provided to Ann over the last 21 years.