Burns Cladwell Cox, Jr.

Burns Caldwell Cox, Jr., life-long resident of the Atlanta area, died Friday, May 9, 2008, of heart disease and complications of diabetes.  He was born August 15, 1932, at Piedmont Hospital.  He attended elementary school at E. Rivers and Garden Hills Elementary Schools, and high school at N. Fulton High School and Georgia Military Academy, graduating in 1951.  He attended Emory at Oxford, class of 1953.  He was in the U. S. Army from 1952?55, and worked as a teller for the First National Bank while attending Georgia State University, from which he graduated with a B.A. in English and Psychology in 1963.  He then attended Woodrow Wilson College of Law.  He earned an M. Ed from the University of Georgia and did doctoral work there.  His career was in the field of rehabilitation.  From 1964?68 he was a counselor in the Georgia Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and from 1968-72 was director of Mental Health and Halfway House Programs in the Atlanta area under Vocational Rehabilitation.  From 1972 until his retirement in 1983, he worked for the Georgia Department of Corrections, as assistant warden and director of treatment programs at the Georgia Training and Development Center from 1972-74, and finally as District Psychologist for the Northeast District of the Georgia Probation Division.  As a forensic psychologist, he designed a pre-sentence investigation program for use with the state judiciary.  He continued working as a forensic psychologist until his retirement.  Burns? parents were Colonel Burns Caldwell Cox and Jeannette Emma Morris Cox.  His father was in charge of armored equipment under General Patton in World War II, and Burns had a life-long interest in World War II history.  He is survived by his brother, Dr. William Cox of Carrollton.  In 1964 he married Janice Bain.  They had three children, Lisa, Burns III (Bob), and Jennifer Ann.  Jennifer died in 1991.  Burns is survived by his wife; daughter Lisa and son-in-law Chris Ulmer; son, Bob; and three grandchildren, Shannon, Lindsey, and Kayley Ulmer.  He enjoyed his family and pursuit of his interests, especially in retirement.  He was always interested in music, performing as a tenor when he was younger.  In retirement, he cultivated this talent with singing lessons from June Cowan, with special interest in opera and German songs.  He and Janice are enthusiastic Atlanta Opera subscribers.  An interest in antique automobiles re-surfaced also in retirement.  As an economic necessity, he sold his ?40 Ford after marriage and children, but his interest never died.  He entered a car show with a ?40 Ford military jeep, and continued his membership, from then on, focusing on ?40 Mercury?s.  He served as President of the Early Ford V-8 Club for two years, and enjoyed the fellowship of fellow V-8 enthusiasts, through monthly meetings, board meetings, tours, and conventions.  He served for years as V-8 Times correspondent.  A recent hobby for Burns and Janice has been postcard collecting with the Georgia Postcard Club, an interest fueled by his love of history and the companionable group of fellow collectors.  In retirement, he also enjoyed photography, making pictures of children, grandchildren, and friends, and officially serving as Early Ford V-8 photographer.  He belonged to the Antique Automobile Association and the Lincoln Owners Club.  Other memberships include the North Decatur Lions Club, (where he was a past president), the Atlanta History Center, and Current Historians Group.  He is a member of Oak Grove United Methodist Church, having served as president of the Kindergarten Committee in earlier years.  His interest in military history led to his membership in the Georgia Military Vehicle Association and the Georgia Arms Collectors.  He was an active member of the Douglas County Historical Society, partly due to his interest in his grandparents and their descendents, the Morris family of Douglasville.  He was a charter member of Corpus Cordis Aureum of the Association of Emory Alumni.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 13, at 1:00 pm in the chapel of A. S. Turner & Sons.  Interment will be at Arlington Memorial Park.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association (PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023) or to the Early Ford V-8 Foundation (PO Box 31403, Rochester, NY 14603-1403).  The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm Monday evening and from 12 noon to 1 pm Tuesday at A. S. Turner & Sons.