Sandra J. Covington

Sandra Jean Covington passed away April 28, 2024, at The Delaney at Lake Waco.

Her funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Waco with Dr. Matt Snowden officiating. A private burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in the Garden Room.

Sandra was born in Houston, Texas, May 2, 1936, to Faye and Cliff Cartlidge. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father worked in the oil business. Sandra inherited her love of sports from her dad, and they loved attending Houston Buffalo baseball games together. Sandra was even an official member of the “Knot Hole Gang” (named for a group of kids in the 1920’s who would watch baseball games through the fence.) She was a true fan!

After graduating from Milby High School, Sandra attended Baylor University to study Education. During her time in Waco, she worked as a “chapel checker” taking attendance for students.

Following her graduation from Baylor University in 1958, Sandra taught English and Texas History in Corpus Christi before making the move back to Houston. There, while volunteering at the county hospital she met the love of her life, Red Covington, who was completing his residency for Baylor Medical School. Red often said that Sandra was the first cartlidge he ever took out. It was love at first sight and the two were married June 28, 1963.

In 1964, Sandra’s daughter, Julie, was born followed soon by Jill in 1965. Sandra became a homemaker and raised their daughters in a loving home. The family moved to Waco in July of 1969 for Red to practice orthopedic medicine, and he would eventually become the team doctor for Baylor Football. The Covington family joined FBC Waco and became immersed in ministry. Red was Chairman of the Deacons and Sandra taught Sunday School to 5 and 6 year olds. Church was a vital piece of Sandra’s life and where she made her closest friends. Over 30 years, Sandra touched hundreds of children’s lives and several generations within the FBC family, it is not unusual to meet parents and their children who were all taught by, and have fond memories of Mrs. Covington. After she “retired” from teaching Sunday School, Red and Sandra became “room parents” to the young married class.

They lived an exciting, generous life and were a bright light in Waco. Red and Sandra loved their daughters, the Lord, their church and oh how they loved Baylor University. The family was and continue to be avid supporters of Baylor Sports.

In the years after Red’s passing, Sandra would occasionally substitute teach for children’s Sunday School and she continued attending games for her beloved Baylor Women’s Basketball Team. She adored the girls on the team and often made them cookies and hosted them for a day of fishing at Lake Covington. Sandra also loved painting ceramics, a hobby she learned from her dear friend, Dee Cota, and she made countless ceramic Christmas gifts for family and friends through the years. If you received one of her ceramic treasures, you knew you were special.

Sandra Covington was fiercely loyal, passionate about Jesus and absolutely adored her daughters, son-in-law, granddaughters and their spouses.

The one song she requested to be at her service is ‘Jesus Love Me’ and this song embodies her life and how she taught children at church.

Sandra was preceded in death by husband, Red Covington; her parents, Faye and Cliff Cartlidge; and in-laws, Mary and William Covington, Jr.

Survivors include daughter, Julie Covington; daughter, Jill Underwood and husband, Paul Underwood; granddaughter, Sarah Schappell and husband, Justin Schappell; granddaughter, Meredith Underwood and fiancé, Jonathon Dornbush; sister, Linda Clark and husband, Floyd Clark; three nieces and their families; and numerous cousins.

Pallbearers will be Michael Butler, Jonathon Dornbush, Glenn Hanna, Collin Mangrum, David Mangrum, Alex Olson, Justin Schappell, Jonathan Soder, Paul Underwood.

Honorary pallbearers will be long-time friends stretching back over 50 years, James Bowden, Willard Still and Grant Teaff.

Memorials may be made to FBC Waco Foundation, 500 Webster Avenue, Waco, TX 76706 OR Red and Sandra Covington Endowed Scholarship Fund (441SEYF) at Baylor University. Donations can be sent to One Bear Place #97026 Waco, Texas 76798-7026 or you can give online at https://bbis.baylor.edu/give?id=49837&a=2&f=441SEYF&scode=24_MT_SCOVINGTON

The family wants to acknowledge a huge debt of gratitude to the staff at The Delaney at Lake Waco, Sandra’s home for the last 6.5 years. She absolutely loved living there and was especially fond of the delicious food. The family is very grateful for the love and care provided to Sandra by the nurses and caregivers during her last 2.5 months, as well as the care provided by Interim Hospice.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on Sandra’s “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.