Roy Berry Covington III

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Roy Berry Covington III, on April 28, 2026, at the age of 66. Born on August 13, 1959, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Roy was the son of Roy Berry Covington Jr. and Frances McColl Covington. Roy greatly looked up to his parents and especially his father, who was an esteemed reporter and editor for The Charlotte Observer.

Roy graduated from East Mecklenburg High School before earning his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Roy then devoted many years of his career to IBM, where he was a project manager of supply chain operations/logistics. An autonomic dysfunction led to Roy’s disability and a continued battle with health issues throughout this life.

Roy did not let health problems dictate his life or passions; he carried himself with quiet strength, seldom complaining, and remained one of the kindest and pure-hearted humans one could ever know. He had a gift for connecting with others, and made every single person in his life, even strangers, feel “seen.” His family was his most cherished treasure, deeply loved and favored above all else. His wife, Carla, was the absolute love of his life and his soulmate; they would have been married for 44 years this August. He was a true man of God, his faith was defined by his devotion to Christ and was present in every action and how he treated every person he came into contact with. He read through the Bible countless times and enjoyed talking theology; he took his role of spiritual head of the household very seriously and provided a beautiful example for his children, family, and all he encountered of what it truly means to love and serve the Lord.

God blessed Roy and Carla with two children, Caitlin and Christopher, as well as two grandchildren, Kennedy and Collins. Roy was the best father and, despite his humility, could often be found bragging about his kids and telling others how proud he was of them - something he would have never done for himself. He was also an amazing grandfather, affectionately known as “PawPaw” to his grandchildren, who adored him. He was always on his hands and knees playing “zombies,” playing guitar for them, or cuddling up on his favorite chair to watch a Paw Patrol episode.

Roy was a man with a deep curiosity for life. He could answer almost any question asked of him, whether it was about black holes in space or simply how to change a flat tire. His curiosity led him to have many hobbies, including anything from taking apart and putting back together his computers to building an observatory in his backyard and tracking comets for the U.S. government. He had the ability to take any subject, no matter how complicated or technological, and explain it in a way that the average person could understand. Later in life, he loved woodworking, and throughout his entire life he never gave up his love for guitar. He was a talented guitarist (in fact, playing on stage was how he first spotted his wife, Carla!) and would often write his own music and play for his family and grandchildren.

Roy is survived by his wife, Carla Henderson Covington; his daughter Caitlin (Christopher) Dorsch and son Christopher (Alyssa) Covington; and his grandchildren Kennedy and Collins Dorsch. He is also survived by his siblings Jennifer Covington, Robert Covington, and Margaret Blue; and their children Lauren, Cassandra, Alexa, Jacob, Maria, Sydney and Savannah.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 13, 2026, at McEwen Funeral Service-Mint Hill from 2-4 pm, located at 7428 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd, Charlotte, NC 28227. The family invites all who knew him to attend and share their favorite memories.