Regina Lou Law Cozad, 84, passed away peacefully on the morning of September 4, 2026, surrounded by her husband, Richard; her daughter-in-law, Kathy; and her son, Richard Jr.
Regina was born at home on May 2, 1942, in Bristol, West Virginia. Her birth was officially recorded as May 21, 1942, when the doctor arrived to record her birth. She was born into the Law family alongside her brothers Charley Wilford Law, Wayne Carl Law, and Boyd Lawrence Law, and her sisters Geneva Mildred Law and Dorothy Ellen Law. Around the age of nine, Regina was separated from her parents and siblings. Though life took them on separate paths, she never forgot where she came from and continued to speak of her brothers and sisters throughout her life.
Regina’s life changed forever when she met Richard L. Cozad Sr. in West Virginia. Their meeting became the beginning of a love and partnership that would span more than six decades. They were married on December 7, 1963, in Baltimore, Maryland, and together built a life, a home, and a family.
Regina was the mother of six children: Sheila, Tammy, Betty, Becky, Regina, and Richard Jr. Her life as a mother brought tremendous joy, but it also brought heartbreak that few mothers are ever asked to endure.
Her daughter Becky passed away in 1970 at only 2 months and 24 days old. Ten years later, Regina lost her daughter Tammy in 1980 at only 14 years old. Decades later, she endured the loss of her eldest daughter, Sheila, who was born in October 1963.
Sheila and her husband, Jimmy, chose to marry on December 7, the same date Regina and Richard had married, so that mother and daughter could share their wedding anniversary. Sheila passed away on December 6, 2021, at the age of 58—just one day before the anniversary they shared.
Through the unimaginable loss of three daughters and the many hardships she experienced throughout her lifetime, Regina continued forward, carrying the love and memories of her daughters with her for the rest of her life.
Regina was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose love extended far beyond her immediate family. She had a way of making children feel welcome and cared for. Her home and her heart were open not only to her own family, but also to neighborhood children and others who needed a place where they could feel they belonged.
Her family remembers the little things that made her uniquely Regina. Her son and grandchildren still crave her one-of-a-kind silver-dollar pancakes. Her daughter-in-law, Kathy, holds deeply the memories of Regina teaching her how to cook and sew beautiful quilts. Regina could even turn housecleaning into an expression of love and beauty, turning on the radio, dancing, and cleaning her home. She had the remarkable ability to turn ordinary moments into timeless, treasured memories.
Her faith was an important part of her life. Regina loved to sing songs such as “I Saw the Light” and “Amazing Grace.” The memory of her singing and the sound of her voice are among the pieces of her that her family will carry with them.
Regina is survived by her beloved husband of more than 62 years, Richard L. Cozad Sr.; her daughters, Betty and Regina; and her son, Richard Jr. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and the many people whose lives were touched by her kindness and love.
She was preceded in death by her daughters Sheila, Tammy, and Becky.
To Richard, she was the woman with whom he shared more than six decades of his life—his Original Mountain Mama. To her children, she was Mom, but they were far from the only ones who called her that. Throughout her life, Regina opened her heart and her home to others, and many came to love and look upon her as a mother of their own. To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was Grandma. And to all those fortunate enough to have known her, she will be remembered for the countless little things she did that made people feel loved.
Her life cannot be measured simply by the 84 years she lived, but by the people she loved, the family she built, the hardships she overcame, and the memories she left behind.
She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.
The family will receive friends at the Perine Funeral Home, 1348 S. Pike St., Shinnston, from 11am until the time of the funeral service at 1pm, Friday, September 11th. Interment will be in the Lumberport Lions Club Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.perinefunerals.com. The Perine Funeral Home is honored to serve the Cozad family.