Well-known Columbus cook, television personality dies at 97

For a generation of Columbus cooks, Lois McCosh’s name was synonymous with Thanksgiving dinner.

McCosh worked for the Gas Light Company of Columbus, but her true passion was cooking. And she did it in regular installments on “The Rozell Show,” a popular WRBL production hosted by the late Rozell Fabiani.

McCosh, 97, died Tuesday in hospice care.

Phil Scoggins, who joined WRBL in 1976, visited with McCosh on Monday.

“She was very lucid, held my hand and she did most of the talking for about 15 minutes,” Scoggins said on Wednesday morning.

And they talked about Thanksgiving dinner, Rozell, Ridley Bell and the history of Columbus television, Scoggins said.

“During the 1960s, ’70s and into the mid-’80s, just about every week she would appear on “The Rozell Show” and cook one of her great dishes,” Scoggins said. “But she and Rozell would always do something special around Thanksgiving. Sometimes they would go to Lois’ home and she would show how to prepare a turkey, dressing and all the fixings.”

About 10 years ago, with McCosh nearing 90, Scoggins went to her home and did a story on her preparing a Thanksgiving meal.

“She cooked turkey, dressing, cake — everything — and she did it Lois McCosh-style,” Scoggins said. “I am going to rerun that story on Monday in her memory.”

She began her career with Eelbeck Milling Company and finished it working in the appliance department of Harvey Lumber Company at 93.

McCosh’s pastor, Jimmy Elder, said McCosh’s cooking prowess was not limited to a television show.

“To this day, if you buy a bag of Eelbeck hush puppy mix, there is a plate of fish she prepared on the package,” Elder said.

In 2008, she published a cookbook of her favorite recipes that sold more than 2,000 copies. She also ran a catering business, specializing in wedding cakes.

“I remember as a child going to the state Capitol and seeing this cake that was made in the shape of the Capitol, gold dome and all,” Elder said. “Lois is the one who made that cake.”

McCosh was a member of American Women in Radio and Television as well as a Gracious Lady of Georgia.

“That is the best way I can describe Lois,” Scoggins said. “She was every bit a gracious lady.”

And she was beloved, Elder said.

“She had her fingers in so many things over so many years,” Elder said. “We have been getting calls from all over the country.”

McCosh is survived by her children Ben McCosh (Annelle) of Lake Harding; Louis McCosh (Julie) of Hamilton; Jim McCosh (Cathy) of Gastonia, N.C.; Marjorie Buchanan of Columbus; and Bebe Cole (Bob) of Savannah. She had 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary. A private burial will be held Friday morning followed by a public memorial service at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to First Baptist Church of Columbus or Kindred Hospice.

This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Well-known Columbus cook, television personality dies at 97."