A Community of Prayer

In downtown Covington a young man rides his bike through an alley towards an oxlot when he suddenly collapses, flips over the handlebars and lies motionless on the ground. Per a business video, twenty minutes pass before a pedestrian (taking a route she had never previously taken) comes upon the still body and calls 911. Emergency Medical Technicians on the scene attempt resuscitation but after several minutes decide to “call it.” Members of the Covington Fire Department stringently object and continue to work. Meanwhile, a Covington police officer is driving the boy’s mother (chaplain to the Police Department), towards the hospital. All the time she screams her prayers to Him, “not my son, not today.” Then, back at the scene, a pulse.

Recently, Phoenix’s bandmates in the St. Paul’s Marching Wolves boarded a bus and made the trek across Lake Ponchartrain to Touro Hospital. Staff there had barricaded an entire block adjacent to the hospital. For forty minutes, the Marching Wolves performed in the street much to the delight of Phoenix, his family, his doctors and therapists and school alumni who just happened to work at Touro. We laughed, we cried, we hugged, we prayed and we danced in the presence of the Holy Spirit. One Alum was overheard saying to another, “Brother Ray would be proud.” Yes, he is.

The community of Covington is rich in history, music and cuisine. We are also rich in the power of prayer and in spirit. Click here for WWL-TV on Phoenix's Story.

An Update

Several days after the band's visit to Touro, Phoenix had improved enough to return home. Per his Mom, "I'm praising the Lord, he is eating normal food, doing great getting in his calories while getting nutrition and eating BY HIMSELF (which takes longer but the muscle memory is starting to crank). God is faithful. Phoenix is reading more (read all of Psalm 100 on his own), writing (some letters get scrambled but that will work itself out in time as brain realigns and rebuilds in his Makers hands) and is engaging in conversations with us more as he gains more confidence. He knows how each chess piece is used, he knows each chord on the bass and he knows how words should sound and read, so for Phoenix, it's all about transitioning that info into practice again. Although a process, he is emerging week by week. The Lord is close."

Walking the grounds of

St. Joseph Abbey with his Dad

Snuggling with his sister, Wren

In September of 1810, residents of the western panhandle of Spanish Florida declared independence and formed their (our) own country, the Republic of West Florida. It stretched from what is today the Florida - Alabama border to the Mississippi River.

President James Madison was none too pleased about a new upstart country in the midst of the United States. From the nation's capital in Washington, he sent an e-mail to then Governor of Louisiana, William C.C. Claiborne (i.e. Claiborne Ave in New Orleans, Claiborne Hill outside of Covington, Claiborne Courthouse - built in 1818 and still standing just outside of what is today the Chimes Restaurant).

Governor Claiborne texted Colonel Leonard Covington in Natchez. Colonel Covington would lead 300 American troops to the new capital in St. Francisville. In a bloodless engagement, the fort would be taken into American hands.

Colonel Covington would eventually become a general, lead troops against the British in the War of 1812 and be mortally wounded at the Battle of Crysler's Farm in Canada. City fathers of our town of Wharton (named by our founder, John Wharton Collins) would in 1816 petition the State Legislature to change the name to Covington.

At least 12 other states have a "Covington." But, of course, we're the coolest.

Replies to this e-mail go directly to Mayor Mark.

I am in need of 1/2 a dozen gravestone sponsorships ($75 each) for unmarked graves at Wilson Cemetery (our historically Black cemetery located on Columbia Street). If you're so inclined, please e-mail me. With these, our community will have "remembered" over 50 gravesites. Thanks, MMJ