Rosemary Mccord

Rosemary McCord, 92, died on Saturday, December 14, 2019, at her home in Norman, OK, following a long illness. Mrs. McCord was born in Fort Worth, TX on August 11, 1927, to Courts and Ruth Redford. She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Al McCord, three daughters, Mrs. Carole Craig and her husband Jeff, of Norman, OK, Dr. Rebecca McCord of Lynchburg, VA, and Dr. Mary McCord and her husband, Henry Croes, of Warrensburg, MO. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, David Craig, Saura Craig-Everett, Stephen Craig, Jennilee Craig, Jecole Craig Gray, Kierna Craig, Kelly Cousins Catherine McCord, April Skaggs, and Anastasia Croes, and eight great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Mrs. McCord is survived by siblings David Redford and Bill Redford of Atlanta, GA, and Jeanette Redford of Decatur, GA. She was predeceased by two brothers, John Redford and Courts Redford, Jr., four sisters, Virginia Hopper, Elizabeth Teters, Sylvia Peavy and Carolyn Redford, and one grandson, Micah Craig.

Mrs. McCord was the fourth of ten children, growing up in Bolivar, Missouri and Decatur, Georgia. Her father, Dr. Courts Redford, served for many years as Executive Secretary of the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board in Atlanta, GA, ministered as an evangelist throughout the United States, and was President of Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri. Her mother, Ruth, distinguished herself as a successful homemaker and loving mother to her large family. Mrs. McCord remained close to her siblings and childhood friends, visiting them often and attending annual family reunions. She actively served as a Curator for the Courts Redford School of Theology at Southwest Baptist University. In 2013, the McCords became Heritage donors when they endowed the Courts Redford Chair for Biblical Studies at Southwest Baptist University as a continuing legacy to her father’s life of service and ministry.

Mrs. McCord attended public schools, graduating from Bolivar High School in 1943 and obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Services from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1948. Mrs. McCord completed education courses at North Texas State and was an honors student when she earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1976. She taught elementary public school in Tyler, Texas, and in Norman, Oklahoma, spending 17 years at Jackson Elementary School.

Mrs. McCord met her husband, Al, while they were students at Oklahoma Baptist University and they were married on May 31, 1947, by her father, Dr. Courts Redford. They moved often, living in Oklahoma and Texas, before settling in Norman in 1966. In 2012, on the occasion of their 65th wedding anniversary, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin presented the couple with a Governor’s Commendation as “a tribute to your love and (for being) an inspiration to others.”

Mrs. McCord was a member of First Baptist Church in Norman and enjoyed the preaching and fellowship at Bethel Baptist Church in Norman, as well. Wherever she and her family lived, they were active, faithful members of a local Southern Baptist Church; she served as Sunday School teacher, WMU President, and Circle Leader.

Rosemary McCord will be well remembered as a frequent and excellent hostess; she was friendly and outgoing. The McCords enjoyed entertaining family and friends in their home and traveled extensively.