Benjamin Covington VIII Columbia -- Funeral services for Bishop Benjamin Harrison Covington, VIII, 75, of Columbia, will be held at 3 P.M. Sunday, July 20, 2003, in Greenlawn Funeral Home Chapel, with Bishop Ted P. Griner officiating. Interment, with military honors, will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Dr. Sam Covington, Jonathan Covington, Paul Covington, Christian Bunce, Teddy Covington, Sam Covington, Jr., Harrison Covington, and Scott Szalwinski. The family will receive friends at Greenlawn Funeral Home Saturday evening from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. Memorials may be made to Ruthie's Children Fund, c/o Y.M.O., P.O. Box 1761, Columbia, S.C., 29202. Greenlawn Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Bishop Covington died July 17, 2003 at his residence. Born on February 5, 1928, in Blenheim, S.C., he was the son of the late Benjamin Harrison Covington, VII and Lucille Sturkey Covington. He had been a resident of Columbia since 1962. He was founder and Senior Bishop of The Missionary Church International and attended Main Street United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Acacia Masonic Lodge #94 and N.A.U.M.E. Bishop Covington was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served as a corpsman on the Coral Sea during WWII. He is survived by his wife, Judy Covington of Columbia; three daughters, Melinda Covington, and Paula Bunce, both of Charleston, S.C., and Kelly Loeble of Landsdale, Pa.; three sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Samuel C. and Lisa Covington of Charleston, S.C., Jonathan H. and Marche Covington of Dunn Loring, Virginia, Paul F. Covington of Columbia, and Barbara Covington of Chapin, S.C.; 11 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Benjamin H. Covington, IX and two sisters, Martha King and Marian Baird submitted by Helen Lane Wiggins