The Reverend James W. ‘Jim’ Cox of Provincetown passed away Tuesday, September 10 at home, surrounded by friends. He was 59.
Born in Barnstable and raised in Wellfleet, he was the son of Hazel (Atwood) and the late William T. Cox. After graduating from Nauset High School, he went on to study at Centenary College, a Methodist Church affiliated college in Shreveport, Louisiana. He graduated in 1981. Jim continued his religious studies attaining the Deacons Order UMC in 1987, the Elders Order in 1994. In May of 1987, he earned his Master of Divinity Degree from Boston University. He was fully ordained into the United Methodist Church in 1989.
Jim was serving as the Pastor of the Provincetown United Methodist Church. Jim, a retired elder in the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, also served Massachusetts churches in Sudbury, East Longmeadow, Attleboro, and Malden.
Reverend Jim, as he was affectionately known, will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was very involved in community and a number of causes, including the Soup Kitchen in Provincetown, the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, the Provincetown Swim for Life, and the Homeless Prevention Council, to name but a few.
In addition to his mother Hazel (Atwood) Cox of Keene, NH, he leaves brothers Jeffrey H. Cox and his wife, Kerry, of South Wellfleet, MA; Howard D. Cox and his wife, Jennifer, of Brewster, MA; and several nieces.
Jim was very involved in planning his funeral. He has donated his body to science, but would like his relatives and friends to participate in a traditional New Orleans ‘Second line’ funeral service to be held October 5, 2019. Friends will gather at 10:00 am in front of the Provincetown Town Hall on Commercial Street and the funeral will process to the United Methodist Church on Shankpainter Rd. for a Celebration of his Life and his return to God. He wanted his service to be colorful and uplifting! RJ was committed to accepting and welcoming ALL. It is in that spirit that he requested that those who attend his services come as who they are, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious beliefs.
Immediately following RJ’s Celebration of Life, there will be a lunch in Hebert Hall at the Provincetown United Methodist Church for a time of fellowship, friendship, and sharing our journeys with our Pastor and friend RJ.
For those who wish, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to the Provincetown United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 311, Provincetown, MA 02657.