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COX FAMILY TRADITION CONTINUES By Deborah Moore On a recent weekend, guests arrived in Smuteye from near and far to attend the 13th annual Hog Killin’ Time Barbecue. Margaret and Major Cox host this pig roasting event each year for friends and guests at their Bullock County Farm. This eagerly anticipated two-day fun fest also included hiking, touring the area's historic cabins and other outdoor activities. Major’s great grandfather started this barbecue tradition in the early 1900s. Then, the annual gathering provided him an opportunity to identify the workers who would help him harvest his cotton fields. Fast forward an entire century and the Coxes now put out the call to everyone, not just to celebrate Major’s birthday but to celebrate friendship in this very diverse group. The fun began Friday evening with the pig roasting team settling in for a 14-hour job around the hickory and oak bonfire. Wayne Jones returned as the team captain and was joined by assistants Robin Moore and her husband, Dalton Kuder, who arrived by private plane from their home in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dalton, the Coxes' long-time friend and flight instructor when they resided in Puerto Rico, ensured they wouldn't miss a single moment of the excitement, rushing to the farm after landing at the nearby Troy airport. Major’s brother-in-law, Larry Oestreich, traveled from Cincinnati with Margaret’s sister, Marianne Meier-Oestreich, and their daughter, Anna Margaret to assist Wayne, as did Greer Geiger from Birmingham. This hard working group also helped Margaret prepare and serve her fabulous fireball chili from an 80 gallon cast iron cauldron. Chick Cleveland, the returning bonfire master, came with his wife, Fran Cleveland, daughter, Susan McCarron, and a cadre of their grandchildren. Mike Sherman headed the pig carving team, assisted by John Moore. They came with their wives, Anita Sherman and Paula Moore. Robert Holmes and his wife, Camelia, arrived early from Birmingham to grill chicken and sausage. Anderson Scott, a photographer from Atlanta, returned with his family to capture the ambiance just as he as done many times in the past. Emma Tate, Margaret and Wilbert Jernigan, who came with son, Jeff, and John McGowan, joined Major's neighbor and cousins, Catherine and Alfredo Cox. Major’s longtime friends, Jim and Viv Stumbles, came from their home in Seattle, Wash. This was a reunion of two men who first met in Brighton, England, at the 1976 World Association of Detectives Convention. At that time Stumbles resided in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he headed a private security company and Cox operated a detective agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Stumbles spent the two days at the Coxes’, enjoying hog killin’ hospitality and recalling past adventures that span three decades and as many continents. Others joining in the festivities from Montgomery included Johnnie and Arlam Carr, and Montgomery's mayor, Bobby Bright, who came with Larry Armsted. Ursula and Don Nolte brought an officer from Botswana, whom they are hosting for the International Officers School at Maxwell Air Force Base. The many attendees also included Carol and Bobby Black, Jane and Jim Larose, Ramona and Hobson Cox, Deborah and Greg Griffin, Ladonna and David Brendle, Susan Harwood, Dorothy Frazier, Tom Chalfant, Wesley and Merlin Newton, Margaret Carpenter, Debbie and Glen Clark, Mary and Jerry Weidler, Richard Cohen, Mary Lee Stapp, Henrietta McGuire, and Cathy and Jim Conley. Originally Published - Montgomery Advertiser, November 14, 2002 |