March 19, 1962 – March 30, 2025
Beaufort, SC
Matthew Vince Covington, 63, died on March 30, 2025, after a fierce battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome.
Born in Florence, S.C., Vince was the son of the late James Edward “Pete” and Barbara Poston Covington. He was the owner of Covington Blind and Shutter Company and co-owner of Catering by Debbi Covington. He was a member of St. Helena’s Anglican Church and served as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort. He was a loving husband, brother, uncle, and friend with a strong Christian faith.
Vince was a music lover, an avid guitarist, and a closet poet. He was a movie buff and a longtime sponsor of the Beaufort International Film Festival. Vince loved nature and animals and fed everything that came into his yard – birds, ducks, deer, turtles, and fish. He loved fishing in his pond, but he always returned his catch to the water. Vince especially loved cats and faithfully fed the feral cat colony behind the Lady’s Island Walmart for many years.
Joyful memories of Vince are cherished by his wife Deborah Baker Covington of Beaufort, S.C.; brothers Fleetwood Covington of Florence, S.C., James Covington (Joanne) of Chestertown, N.Y., five nieces and nephews, and his beloved cat Belle.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 10 at 3:30 pm at St. Helena’s Anglican Church, 505 Church Street, Beaufort, S.C.. A reception in the Parish Hall will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Humane Association of the Lowcountry, c/o CFL, PO Box 23019, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29925; St. Helena’s Anglican Church, PO Box 1043, Beaufort, S.C. 29901; or the Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, S.C. 29902. The family would also like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Clark Trask and Cardinal Hospice of Beaufort.
