Esteemed philanthropist, diplomat, and Chairman of Atlanta newspapers, Anne Cox Chambers has died at 100 years old.
What We Know:
- Her nephew James Cox Kennedy announced her death to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, her company’s flagship newspaper.
- Her father, James M. Cox, was a former school teacher and news reporter when he founded the Dayton Daily News in 1898. He later served three terms as governor of Ohio and lost a bid for the presidency in 1920.
- Chambers and her sister, Barbara Cox, who died in May 2007, were owners of the privately held Cox Enterprises since 1974, after their brother passed away. Atlanta and the metro area holdings of Cox Enterprises were very special to her. Chambers served on the Cox board of directors and held the title of chairman of Atlanta Newspapers.
- The two Cox sisters were very reserved with their privacy. In a rare interview with Fortune magazine in 1991, Mrs. Chambers said: “The more anonymous you can be, the better. Why, then you can just do whatever you want.”
- Forbes estimated her to have a net worth of roughly $17 billion several years ago. She was also known to have served on the boards of the Atlanta Arts Alliance, the High Museum of Art, among other institutions. She was no stranger to very charitable donations as well.
- Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, expressed condolences in a statement on Friday, saying “Ambassador Chambers was an important part of our lives for over six decades”.
Statement from Jimmy Carter on the passing of Anne Cox Chambers pic.twitter.com/JotAsrtaC3
— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) January 31, 2020
- In addition, Chambers’ support of Carter, who won Georgia governor’s office in 1970 and later presidency in 1976, won her the position as U.S. ambassador to Belgium in 1977.
Chambers grandson and current CEO of Cox Enterprises, Alex Taylor, stated she loved Atlanta dearly and thought it was critical place in the world. “She would want to be known for being a person who cared about her home, someone who cared about making the world a better place in her own way.”
