Marian Elizabeth Todd Cover

Marian Elizabeth Todd Cover was born on November 16, 1927, in the District of Columbia to the late Joseph and Mattie Todd. She entered eternal rest on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at the Bowie Assisted Living in Bowie, Maryland, surrounded by her family. The middle child of four children, at an early age she exhibited a focused and independent spirit which manifested later in life. Marian was a native Washingtonian. At Francis Junior High School, she shared a locker with the love of life, her future husband, Leon N. Cover, Sr., to whom she was married for 56 years and reared three children. A graduate of Cardoza High School, where fifty years later Marian rallied her fellow high school alumni to establish an annual scholarship fund for college bound seniors. Marian attended Howard University but left before completing her degree to start her family. Twenty years later she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of the District of Columbia. In 1971 the family moved to Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Marian had a 38-year tenure in the Federal Government where she served at the Headquarters for the United States Marine Corps as Management Analyst, Head, Information Management and Resource Programs. She received high praise, commendations, and accolades for saving the government more than a half million dollars and was affectionately nicknamed General Cover. Following her retirement from the government in 1986, she was a substitute teacher for the Prince George’s County Public School District and a trainer for Camp Fire Boys and Girls presenting the Peer Proof program to children in schools throughout the DC Metropolitan region.

As a mother, she empowered her children to worship God, give service and pursue knowledge which was the opening to the credo of the National Camp Fire Boys and Girls. Marian led a Camp Fire club for her daughters for a decade. Her Camp Fire club earned exceptional awards and honors in the Potomac Area Council. She and her husband were also Den parents for the St. Luke’s Cub Scout troop. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church was Marian’s church home for seventy years where she held many leadership positions including: lector, president, and treasurer of Episcopal Church Women (ECW). She led many projects to enhance St. Luke’s ministry, including the acquisition of a church van to transport seniors and the creation of the Eighty and Older Luncheon. She ensured that her children were in the choir and youth groups and maintained perfect attendance in Sunday School.

For the Diocese of Washington, Marian held several leadership positions. She was President of the Episcopal Church Women for three consecutive years, delegate to the Triennial Convention for four years and in 1998 a delegate to the Episcopal Church Women 1998 Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England. She also served on the Board of the Episcopal Senior Ministries. In 1992, she co-chaired the nominating committee for the Suffragan Bishop of Washington DC Episcopal Diocese which elected the second female Bishop in the Episcopal Church: Reverend Jane Holmes Dixon. Before 1992, many parishes, including St. Luke’s did not recognize female priests. When St. Luke’s invited a female priest, as a guest preacher, but did not allow her to preach from the pulpit, Marian led the women in the congregation out of the church in protest. Marian was voted in the Diocese of Washington as the distinguished woman to be honored at the National Triennial Meeting.

Marian was preceded in death by her husband, Leon N. Cover, Sr., and her sisters: Queen Esther Todd and Josephine Rodgers. She leaves to cherish her legacy, her devoted children: Jennifer Cover Payne (Wardell), Marian Cover Dockery, and Leon N. Cover, Jr.; her brother: Robert Todd (Elaine) and niece: Chelva Todd; grandchildren: Langston Cullen Payne (Veronica), Simone Payne, Stephanie Dockery and Todd Dockery; great grandchild: Zara Maria Payne; and sisters-in-law: Charlene Sutton and Betty Squriewell (Joseph); brother-in-law: Andrew Alexander; cousin: Otis (Janice) Caldwell; Godchildren: Roy Allen Saunders and Kathleen Saunders Mitchell; dear friend: Calvin McFarland (Deborah); and a host of family and friends.

Live Stream will be available on the church website: https://stlukesdc.org. To offer condolences and to view the obituary visit:www.fort-lincoln.com

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1514 15th St., NW, Washington, DC 20005.