Celebrating Anne Cox Chambers (1919–2020)

Anne Cox Chambers, daughter of Governor James M. Cox and Cox Enterprises board member, passed away peacefully at her home in Atlanta at the age of 100. 

Those wishing to share their condolences are encouraged to visit http://tribute.coxenterprises.com. 

Mrs. Chambers was born Dec. 1, 1919 in Dayton, Ohio. She was a community leader, passionate supporter of the arts, champion of animal welfare and generous philanthropist. For 33 years, she co-owned Cox Enterprises with Barbara Cox, her sister and the mother of Cox Enterprises Chairman Jim Kennedy. 

“My aunt leaves behind a remarkable legacy for our family and the many organizations she generously supported with her time and financial gifts,” said Kennedy. 

Mrs. Chambers was a long-time member of Cox’s board of directors, and past chairwoman of Atlanta Newspapers. Her influence, however, didn’t stop with the company. 

She blazed a trail in the business world at Fulton National Bank as the first woman in Atlanta to serve as a bank director. She was also the first woman to be appointed to the board of Atlanta’s Chamber of Commerce and was director of the board of the Coca-Cola Company during the 1980s. She served as ambassador to Belgium from 1977 to 1981, a post she was appointed to by President Jimmy Carter. 

A generous donor and passionate supporter of the arts, Mrs. Chambers enriched the lives of countless others with her work on the board of nonprofit organizations and contributions to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, Shepherd Center and the High Museum of Art, where a wing is named in her honor.  

She enjoyed spending time with her family and was an avid gardener. The creamy pale Anne Cox Chambers Rose is named in her honor. 

Mrs. Chambers’ influence on Cox and her work on behalf of Atlanta and the world will not soon be forgotten. Moving forward, Cox will continue to uphold her legacy of giving back while growing our businesses for the future.  

Mrs. Chambers is survived by three children, Katharine Johnson Rayner, Margaretta Johnson Taylor and James Cox Chambers. Her grandson, Alex Taylor, serves as president and CEO of Cox Enterprises. 

To learn more about the life of Mrs. Chambers, please read the article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.