Orlando G. Covington Jr.

funeral director and owner, Covington Funeral Home, West Atco, New Jersey, died May 4, 2024, at age 56. Covington attended Philadelphia Institute of Art and Design, where he majored in architectural design. He moved to the Virgin Islands and worked as an architect until 1995 when Hurricane Irene destroyed his business. Relocating to New Jersey and pursuing his childhood dream, he enrolled in Mercer County Community College to become a funeral director.

Covington was an apprentice at Greenidge Funeral Home in Atlantic City and stayed on once licensed. He then became manager of Tunsil Funeral Home in Palmyra. In 2009, he founded Covington Funeral Home and forged a reputation for being an excellent mortician.

Covington served as president of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association (2015-16) and was a NFDA Policy Board representative for New Jersey; president of West Jersey Funeral Directors Association (2009-11); member of NFDA, the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association and Garden State Funeral Directors Association; and a lifetime member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

Covington is survived by wife Laurie, son Orlando III, mother Anna, sister Yevette and brother Edwin.