Smiles we remember: Jessie “Ray” Covington

Former administrator Jessie “Ray” Covington passed away Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. He joined the dental school staff in 1966 as an accountant and later became the controller before being named chief financial officer and vice president of business services.

Covington worked diligently on the merger between what was then Baylor College of Dentistry and the Texas A&M University System between 1995 and 1996, often working seven days a week to iron out the details. He retired from the dental school in 1998.

In 1999, Covington started working at the Baylor Oral Health Foundation, where he served as assistant treasurer until his retirement in 2019. According to a message from Robert Bigham, BOHF president and treasurer, Covington worked with Baylor College of Dentistry retirees on their health benefits, as well as the BOHF Tuition Reimbursement program for children of BCD employees who were employed at the time of the merger.

“He was an important link between BOHF and the college,” Bigham said. “Ray was always helping others – family, church friends and neighbors. He will be missed by all who called him friend.”

Covington is survived by his wife, Donna; daughters Renee (Roy) Henry and Dana Covington; brother George (Patsy) Covington; four grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.