Cecelia Owens Cox (1951–2019) was one of the original 41 women sworn into the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) on September 22, 1982. The integration of women into the FDNY was a hard-fought battle, but Cecelia and her cohort were well-prepared for the challenge. She broke significant barriers for women, particularly Black women, throughout her career. Notably, she was the first woman assigned to a ladder company (Ladder 9) and the first woman to serve as a ladder company chauffeur.

Throughout her tenure, she was a dedicated advocate and an active member of both the United Women Firefighters and the Vulcan Society. In these roles, Cox drove meaningful change as a mentor and activist, inspiring countless women to enter the firefighting profession. On a personal note, Cecelia married fellow firefighter Andre Cox in 1990. She eventually retired from the FDNY in 2005. To honor her legacy, the intersection of Sutter Avenue and the Van Wyck Expressway in Jamaica, Queens—located near her longtime home—was co-named in her memory.