Dr. Martin Cade Covington

SANFORD -- Dr. Martin Cade Covington, 79, of 1616 Clearwater Drive, passed away on January 16, 2002 in North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill after a critical illness of one week.
Dr. Covington was born near Jonesboro, NC on March 19, 1922, the son of John L. and Madge Cade Covington. He is survived by his wife, the former Irene Hook, daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. A. L. Hook of Elon College.
His survivors include five sons and one daughter, Dr. Alonzo Hook Covington (Pat) of Rockingham, Dr. Donald Van Covington (Ellen) of Rockingham, Mr. Robert Lyon Covington of Sanford, Dr. Frank Edward Covington (April) of Beaufort, Dr. Raymond Paul Covington (Cathy) of Stoney Creek and Mrs. Nancy Covington Dickens (Brannon) of Sanford. He is survived by one sister, Ruth Morrill of Greenville, TN. He was predeceased by his parents; two sisters, Cornelia O'Connell, and Louise Vetter; one brother, J. L. Covington, Jr.; and one son, Martin Cade Covington, Jr., who lost his life in an automobile accident in 1967. He is survived by 14 grandchildren.
Dr. Covington graduated at North Carolina State University and pursued additional studies at Elon College. He received the M.D. degree at the Medical College of Virginia and he interned in the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA.
Flying was an avocation for Dr. Covington. He had a private pilot's license with multiengine, commercial and instrument ratings. He graduated from Air Corps Officer Candidate School in 1943, and served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He was wounded at Leyte Island and was awarded the Purple Heart.
Dr. Covington opened his private practice in Sanford in 1951 and served as a family physician in Sanford until 1991. He was a member of the Lee County Medical Society from 1951, served on the Board of Directors and as Chief of Staff (1987) of Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, and was board certified by the American Board of Family Practice. After his retirement from private practice he served as emergency room physician in North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota and Germany until 2000.
Dr. Covington served on the Board of Education for Lee County for 21 years. He was a member of the State School Boards Association for 14 years and served as its chairman (1971-73). He was the sports team physician for Lee County Senior High School for 36 years and sports team physician for Elon College for six years.
Dr. Covington was a life-long member of the Jonesboro United Methodist Church. He was a Mason, Buffalo Lodge #172 of AF & AM from 1943 and served as Master in 1962. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Sanford with 40 years of perfect attendance. He served as president of the Kiwanis Club in 1965.
Dr. Covington was honored as the Lee County Citizen of the Year (1976) and served as the Grand Marshal of the Sanford Jaycees Christmas Parade (1991). The Rotary Club of Sanford awarded him the "4-Way Test" Award in 1991. He was named "Physician of the Year" in 1991 by the American College of Emergency Physicians. In 1992 he was given the award for "Making Lee County Civic Center a Reality." Elon College presented him with its Alumni Service Award in 1999.
Funeral services for Dr. Covington will be held at the Jonesboro United Methodist Church on Saturday afternoon at 2 PM. The services will be conducted by the Reverend David A. Banks, Pastor, and Dr. Earl Danieley, President Emeritus of Elon University. Interment will be in the Jonesboro Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Jonesboro United Methodist Church in the Wesley Center, 401 West Main Street, Sanford on Friday evening from 6-8 PM and at other times at the residence.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Elon University, Elon, NC 27244; to Jonesboro United Methodist Church, 407 West Main Street, Sanford, NC 27330; or to a charity of choice.
Arrangements by Rogers-Pickard Funeral Home.