Dolly Frances Covington

Dolly Frances Covington, a retired Registered Nurse and health care executive, died Friday night, March 22, 2023 after a spirited battle with breast cancer. She was 80.

She is survived by her son, Gregory Smiley, her son-in-law, André du Plessis, her daughter, Meredythe Gray, and her godkids: Thomas, Ann, and Ben Stanton.

Dolly was born on the family farm in Clover, Virginia, on June 11, 1943. After her parents' divorce in 1951, her mother moved her and her sister to Richmond, Virginia.

Some thoughts about Dolly from her family:

She valued service. She took the harder nursing jobs in ICU and in trauma, at the VA Hospital and other institutions. She worked the graveyard shift to be with her children when they left for school and to be there when they got home.

She never interrupted anyone; she rarely spoke in paragraphs. She spoke mostly in handfuls of words when needed to deliver the truth. She would offer her ear for hours but never her advice, unless asked.

Each Sunday she dutifully led the pilgrimage from church to her mother's, switching to her mom's green chevy Impala to drive her sister, mother, and two children on a Sunday drive to the "country". She, of course, dismissed astrology but was undoubtedly a true Gemini: doting, sacrificing mother while also a direct, no-nonsense health care executive. She exhibited both empathy for patients as well as a business practicality to design and deliver fair programs.

She possessed a private but certain Christian faith but read the Koran and other religious teachings in an endless curiosity to read and learn from others. Undoubtedly a Stoic. With each hard knock she grieved for a moment, then "got on with it". She endured monstrous pain throughout her life and braved dementia and cancer with enviable strength.

She relished Duke basketball and devoured tennis. Definitely Nadal over Djokovic. She usually suppressed her rapier wit and guarded her poker face, though dementia later dissolved her armor over both, to our pleasure.

She kayaked in Alaska, petted tamed lions in South Africa, hiked New Hampshire mountains with her son and cruised the Seine in France with her friends. She was a formidable bridge player.

She emptied her time and treasure to family but was rich in beauty, style, and poise. She was simply a heroine.

In honor of her wishes, she was cremated and had no funeral. A celebration in her honor will be held on April 27th 2024 at 2 pm. Please contact G. Smiley on 202 251 2148 or at gsmileyrichmond@gmail.com for further details.

Cards can be sent to c/o G. Smiley, 550 W. 45th Street Apt 2705, New York, NY 10036.