Kathryn Virginia Thompson Covington was affectionately known as Maggie and Aunt Iggy. Virginia was born to Floyd and Edna Mae Milam Thompson in Corsicana Texas on August 21, 1933. She graduated from Corsicana High School and later attended Navarro Junior College. It was in Texas that she met her beloved husband on a blind date and told him that she was going to marry him. During her last few months, she often told family and caregivers, “I love my husband. He takes such good care of me.”

Before Noel left for the Korean War, they made their home in Tennessee where Noel Jr. was born. During the conflict, Virginia and “Little Noel” moved back to Texas and then moved when he was discharged to Mississippi while Noel went to college. The oil industry recruited Noel, and the family moved to Louisiana where Cindy and Kathryn were born and where the family lived until Noel’s retirement.

Virginia loved living in Louisiana. She especially loved the Mardi Gras festivities and was actively involved in several krewes, the Krewe of Oberon and the Order of the Troubadours. Actually, Mardi Gras was a year-long activity for her. During the months leading up to the Mardi Gras season, her home transformed into a costume shop with sequins, rhinestone banding, glue, and beautiful costumes in progress hanging from doorways. She enjoyed the celebrations surrounding the balls. These days were some that she spoke of often, and the memories always brought a sparkle back into her eyes.

Virginia loved Asbury United Methodist Church and was involved with the Disciple Bible studies and Cursillo. Last summer she found a box of her rainbows and roosters. She recalled who had given her each little memento. Then, she began to sing, “This is the day that the Lord has made/Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

After retirement, Virginia and Noel moved back to Mississippi and built their dream home, a home where she enjoyed her 50th anniversary and the baptism of her youngest grandson, William Noel.

When she was able, Virginia loved to read and collect books. She enjoyed books about religion and spirituality, Russian history and literature, Southern literature, and biographies. Her favorite flowers were blue irises and white roses. She savored a glass a chardonnay. She loved to eat a good steak and pecan pie.

She adored feline and canine companions: Brubbie and Miss Kitty; German Shepherd Maggie, lab mix Baby Sister, and outside cat Little Lady.

Survivors:
Husband: Noel J. Covington, Sr. 57 years
Son: Noel J. Covington, Jr and wife Terri of Lafayette, LA
Daughters: Cynthia West and husband John Eric of Atlanta GA, Kathryn LaCombe and husband David of New Windsor, NY

Granchildren: Sean Noel Covington, Gretchen Lynn Covington Prindle, John Christopher West, William Noel LaCombe

Great grandchildren: Evan Covington, Ethan Covington, Chloe Prindle, Samuel Prindle, Joel Prindle

Sister: Elizabeth Sullivan of Houston TX and brother Lynn Henry Thompson of Texas. Nieces, nephew, and her special nephew Michael David Sullivan

The family would like to thank all of those who assisted with her care: Mary Nell Coleman, Linda McGee, nurses at Montfort Jones Hospital in Kosciusko, MS and the In His Hands Hospice of Madden, MS.