OLIVE WRIGHT COVINGTON

OLIVE WRIGHT COVINGTON

SILVER SPRINGS, MD - Olive Wright Covington peacefully departed this life on June 21, 2022, at her home in Riderwood Village, Silver Spring, MD, at the age of 94.

Olive was raised in Bennettsville, S.C., graduated Fisk University (1947), taught in S.C. schools at every level before moving to Washington D.C. 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 D.C. Public Schools for 8 years and went on to develop programs in both public and private sectors that provided innovative learning experiences for children and teachers alike. 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, S.C. 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 Friday, July 29, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, 121 James S. McCleod, Sr. Memorial Hwy, Bennettsville, S.C. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to the Shiloh Baptist Church Scholarship Fund (www.shilohbaptist121.org).