“ We left the state for several years during his military service, but we always knew we wanted to return home,” Cox says.“ We wanted our kids to grow up with a sense of home and with a Mountaineer heart. It was important to both of us that we return home and serve the community that raised us.”
With her children now older and her family settled in one place, Cox decided it was the right time to reenter the practice of law. She joined Bowles Rice that year, working on the tax team in estate planning and estate administration. Her practice focuses on assisting individuals and business owners with estate planning, administration, wills, trusts and elder law matters.
“ All families are different, with different considerations and priorities,” Cox says.“ I listen to what they want and try to deliver an estate plan that meets their needs and protects them from any estate tax liabilities, if necessary.”
Cox also spends time in client development for the firm, and her favorite part of the position is the moments when her job becomes more than just being a lawyer.
“ At Bowles Rice, we love our community, and we want to make sure we are there to support our fellow businesses and nonprofits,” she says.“ It is my pleasure to help facilitate that work.”
Seeing a shrinking legal community in the Eastern Panhandle, she partnered with WVU College of Law to organize Eastern Panhandle Day, featuring attorneys discussing local practice with students.
Cox is involved with several community and civic activities. She serves as chair of the Potomac Bank advisory board; vice president of CASA of the Eastern Panhandle; vice chair of Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce; board member for Hospice of the Panhandle; board member and member of the planned giving committee at WVU Medicine East Foundation; and volunteer with Read-A-Loud, Shenandoah Women’ s Advocacy Group, Jefferson County Garden Club, Happy Retreat and Jefferson County Community Ministries.
Due to her strong commitment to community service, Cox has received many awards and accolades. In 2018, she
was selected by the National Endowment for the Arts as a panelist for the Dance Review Committee. In 2020, she was recognized by the West Virginia State Bar’ s More than a Lawyer program. In 2025, Cox was named a distinguished volunteer by the National Association of Fundraising Professionals, a recognition that followed a career path built on experiences and passions that differed from the traditional legal journey.
Cox considers her two children, Anna Grace and Chandler, her greatest achievements. Anna Grace is a senior at the University of Utah, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet. Chandler is a freshman at WVU, where he will be pursuing a degree in psychology.
“ When the kids were younger, we moved every nine months to two years,” Cox says.“ We are a close family that supports and relies upon each other. Watching the kids grow and mature into the amazing people they are has been my greatest source of pride.”
In Charles Town, Cox and her family live in a historic home they fell in love with at first sight. Happy to be surrounded by the beauty of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the family also enjoys living among history. The home of Charles Washington, Happy Retreat, is only three blocks from her own. Cox credits the downtown organization, Charles Town Now, for bringing the community together through local events that celebrate the town’ s heritage.
“ I feel very blessed to have grown up and now live in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia,” Cox says.“ I grew up in a community that, at least in my experience and perception, always worked for the greater good.” •
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