Covington is the first Black McLean County resident to be profiled in a three-day educational series sponsored by the YWCA McLean County and McLean County Museum of History. The series, “Presence, Pride and Passion: A History of African Americans in McLean County,” is in honor of Black History Month and will continue Wednesday and Thursday by Jeff Woodard, director of marketing and community relations at the museum.

The biographies of World War I veteran Willis Stearles and local activist Caribel Washington will be highlighted in a virtual event Wednesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. Registration is available here.

“This is something near and dear to me,” said Tiffany Lawson-Grant the chairwoman of the YWCA McLean County. “And we are thrilled that we are able to cooperate with the museum and bring this series.”

Born on Aug. 1, 1872, in Rappahannock County, Virginia, to former slave parents, Covington exhibited a sharp intellect from an early age. He eventually graduated from Howard University, a historically black school in the nation’s capital, Woodard said.

By the 1890s, to cite several representative examples, African Americans could not stay at Bloomington hotels, and if they wanted to attend a local theater they had to sit in the back rows.

Covington came to Bloomington-Normal in 1900, but it is unknown why he came to Bloomington, Woodard said. He set up practice at 313½ N. Main St. in downtown Bloomington, now an art gallery. He later moved to a new location next to his house at 410 E. Market St.

“We don’t know if he had a nurse or receptionist but he would make house calls to patients unable to visit his office,” he said. “Covington always arrived at house calls in a car driven by his son, Girard. Although Covington owned a car, he never drove one himself.”

“He was known for being well-dressed, classy, and occasionally was thought of as being pompous by some,” Woodard added. “He was quite a character. When he stepped into a room, you knew he was somebody.”

Although he was successful as a doctor, he often fell on hardship, according to Woodard. Other doctors undercharged Black patients who were otherwise unable to pay but of course he was dependent on those Black patients.

“Once he began establishing his practice in Bloomington, he used to rush his buddy in and out of the yard to give the appearance that he was always busy,” Woodard said. “It was like the wild, wild, west.”

He had both Black and white patients, and was a surgeon, but could not perform surgery without a white doctor in the operating room to supervise.

“Covington was outspoken on issues of voting, education and employment and fought throughout his life against racism,” Woodard said. “And he suffered for that.”

Woodard told the story that Covington convinced the mayor of Bloomington to hire a Black patrolman.

“He was hired and fired, but Covington was able to persuade the mayor to hire him back again,” he said.

“Dr. Covington emphasized education as a way for young African-Americans to have opportunity for success,” he said. “I imagine he used a lot of what he learned at Howard University and put forward his beliefs.”

He once told a Sunday School convention in 1903 that he felt proud of the progress that Black people were making and hoped that it would continue. He promised to do all in his power to help build up his race.

Covington ran for city council in 1915, but did not secure enough votes in the primary to advance to the general election. He attended Wayman AME church and was a trustee. He was active in the NAACP

He died at Mennonite Hospital in Bloomington in 1929 and the age of 56.

“I felt like he was a tortured soul,” Woodard said.

9 historic photos from The Pantagraph archives