In Memory of Anna Jones Covington 1908 - 2010

The following obituary was published on March 4, 2010, in the Clarion Ledger, Jackson's daily newspaper:

"Anna Jones Covington, 101, passed away on March 1, 2010. Born Emily Vianna Jones on June 30, 1908, she was the oldest of the nine children of James Franklin Jones and Minnie Lee McCrory Jones. Visitation was held Wednesday March 3, 2010, from 5:00-8:00 pm at Southern Funeral Home in Durant. The funeral service will be on Thursday, March 4, 2010, at 2:00 pm at Southern Funeral Home in Durant. Interment will be at the Seneasha Cemetery in Goodman. Throughout her life, "Miss Anna" enjoyed gardening and her many canine companions. She was a member of Shrock United Methodist Church, Shrock United Methodist Women, and the Society of Descendants of Washington's Army at Valley Forge through the service of her great-great-grandfather, Ensign James McCrory, 9th North Carolina Regiment. Survivors include three children, Christine Vianna Covington of Goodman, Duncan Cicero Covington of College Station, TX, and Noel Jones Covington Sr. of Goodman; one brother, Tommy Jones (Nancy) of Kosciusko; four grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Duncan Noel Covington; an infant daughter; a son, James Howard Covington; and seven brothers, William Jones, Johnny Jones, Walter Jones, Melvin Jones, Lee Anderson Jones, Cecil Jones, and Bennie Jones. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Seneasha Cemetery Fund P.O. Box 328 Goodman, MS 39079 or Shrock United Methodist Church P. O. Box 137 Goodman, MS 39079."

Jim Carr and the "Good People" of Attala County

A few weeks ago while reading through Duncan Covington's "The People of Shrock, Mississippi 1895-1922," I ran across an article that was published in the "Star Ledger" newspaper in 1899. My post is about some "good people," perhaps would-be "saints," who helped a person in need long ago. These good deeds involved a number of Shrock residents, including my own paternal great-grandfather, John Porter, and the account of what happened appeared in the August 14, 1899 newspaper column, signed by "Violet."



"There was a sad affair here several days since. Mr. John Porter found a man by the name of Jim Carr in an old cotton house very sick and without food or medicine. He told the neighbors of the poor man's condition, and, being near Mr. Wm. Holley's, he took his buggy and with neighbors help moved him to a cabin on his place and Mrs. Holley sent bedding and made it as comfortable as possible. The poor man lay on his dying bed, among strangers with no kin near and exclaimed: Good people! Good People! They sent for Dr. Anderson and did all they could for him but on Friday his life ended. The people bought his coffin and clothes and laid him to rest in Old Fellowship grave yard. He said he was on his way to work in timber and had no relatives. Peace to his ashes."



Another article that provides some additional information about Mr. Carr appears in the August 11, 1899 edition of "The Mississippi Farmer" (Vol. 3, No. 40.) This article was written by "Daisy" and relates that Mr. Carr, who was "about 45 years old" when he died, had come to Mississippi to "work in the swamp." He became ill after arriving in Attala County and had not been able to work. When Mr. Carr was asked by those who were helping him before his death if he had relatives they should contact, he told them he had no living relatives at all.



Good people. Yes, good people they all were indeed.