Olive Covington Obituary

COVINGTON

OLIVE W. COVINGTON

Olive Wright Covington peacefully departed this life on June 21,2022 at her home in Riderwood Village at the age of 94. Olive was raised in Bennettsville, SC, graduated Fisk University (1947), taught in SC schools at every level before moving to Washington, DC in 1960 with her husband, Heber Covington, Jr. (deceased 1973), and two daughters, Joy and Maggie. She was a highly respected and passionate educator who taught in the DC Public Schools for eight years and went on to develop programs in both public and private sectors that provided innovative learning experiences for children and teachers alike. One of the many positions she held was Director of Communications and Public Relations for DCPS under superintendent Vince Reed. After retiring, she moved back to Bennettsville where she developed the flagship program for the Children's Defense Fund's national Freedom School Program. She often said, "If one word describes me, it would be TEACHER". She was a long-time member of Shiloh Baptist Church, Bennettsville, SC and Asbury Methodist Church in D.C. where she served as President of the United Methodist Women. Olive was warm, funny, stylish, an avid lover of books, a great mentor, committed friend, and a faithful servant of God. She will be deeply missed. She is survived by daughters, Joy Faith Covington and Dr. Maggie Covington Cornwell; son-in-law, Dr. Edward Cornwell; grandson, Michael Elijah Cornwell; siblings Rev. Harry S. Wright, Sr. and Marian Wright Edelman, 14 nieces and nephews and many friends. A memorial celebration of Olive's life will be held Thursday, July 14, 11 a.m., at Riderwood Village Chapel, 3110 Gracefield Rd., Silver Spring, MD. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Shiloh Baptist Church Scholarship Fund (www.shilohbaptist121.org).

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