Edward "Chizzy" Jack Covacevich

Funeral services for Edward Jack "Chizzy" Covacevich, a native and lifelong resident of Biloxi, will be Thursday, October 20, 2022.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church at 12:00 p.m. with visitation starting at 10:30 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery. He died Sunday morning, October 16, 2022 at the age of 92.

Edward Jack Covacevich was born to Donald and Oza Covacevich of Point Cadet on May 20, 1930.

In 1946, Chizzy met his future wife, Marcella Germanis, at the old Notre Dame High School CYO Dance.  On September 14th of this year, the couple would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.  In 2001, Edward and Marcella received a Papal Blessing on their marriage from Pope John Paul II. 

Edward was a founding member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church where he served as Eucharistic Minister and Lector.  He was Chairman of the Fatima Bizarre and served as the church building Committee Chairman.  With great love and respect for the priesthood, Edward also chaired the committee to build retirement homes for priests on the Fatima grounds.  He worked tirelessly for the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  Chizzy was active in the Cursillo Movement as well as the ACTS Retreat Team at the parish.

Active Duty called Edward to serve in the U.S. Navy on the USS Oriskany during the Korean War era. His military career continued in the U.S. Army (115 AAU), U.S.A.F. Contracting NCO and retired as a Senior Master Sergeant from Combat Readiness Center in Gulfport, MS.  He received several medals and awards from his military service. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Edward married Marcella and headed to Baton Rouge, LA where he earned a B.S. in Accounting from LSU.  At the same time, he worked as a butcher at the A&P.  He and his family would later return to Biloxi in 1960 to partner the Wyatt and Covacevich Accounting Firm.  His business sense led him to Rhodes Floor Covering, where he worked as Business Manager until 1967. His previous military service and experience in accounting ultimately led him to a career as contracting supervisor for the Air National Guard Combat Training Center in Gulfport, where he worked for 23 years.  Retired from the Air National Guard, he continued his career as Procurement Advisor with Mississippi Contract Procurement Center in Biloxi, and later worked as the office manager for the law firm of Page, Mannino and Peresich.  

Edward was also the owner of K&D Cash Curb on Oak Street in Biloxi for many years.  He loved to reference the "mom and pop store" where he and Marcella shared duties as " Where the rainbow ends, K&D Cash Curb".  He and Mrs. C. were loved and respected by all their patrons at Point Cadet.  

Living an active and giving life, Edward served as President of the Biloxi Junior Chamber of Commerce, VP and Treasurer of Inter-Parochial School Board for the Diocese of Biloxi, Chairman of Biloxi Taxi Cab Advisory, VP and Treasurer of MS Coast Transportation Authority, Biloxi Knights of Columbus Shrimp Bowl Classic Chairman, Charter Member and District Director- Mississippi National Guard Non-Commissioned Officers Association, Chairman of Biloxi Elks 606 Ship Island Cleanup (National Parks Services), President Biloxi Business Men's Club, Charter Member of Neptune - Les Periots, Coast Carnival Association, member of Biloxi Planning Commission, Administrative and Advisor of the Mississippi Boxing Commission, and Treasurer of Gulf Coast Community Concert, and he was a lifelong member of the Slavic Benevolent Association.

In his lifetime, the following awards were given: Alpha Kappa Psi (National Business Fraternity), Beta Alpha Psi (National Accounting Fraternity), Phi Gamma MU (National Social Science Honor Society), Meritorious Service Award, Air Force Achievement Medal and Mississippi Magnolia Cross.

Edward was preceded in death by his mother and father; his sister, Hilda; and by his wife of 70 years, Marcella.  He is survived by his sons, Kevin (Sonja) Covacevich, Kenneth Covacevich, David (Christine) Covacevich from Biloxi; by his daughter, Mari (Glenn) Sablich from St. Augustine, Florida; his grandchildren, Casey and Patrick Covacevich of Biloxi, Aaron Covacevich of Mobile, Alabama, Nicholas and Noah Sablich and Sarah (Brandon) McFall all of St. Augustine, Florida; his cherished great-grandchildren, Ava Grace, Olivia Marie and John Lennox McFall of St. Augustine, Florida.  

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made in Edward's memory to Our Lady of Fatima St. Vincent de Paul Society, P.O. Box 4098 Biloxi, MS 39531.  

This one's for you dad- Geaux Tigers!!

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue in Biloxi, is honored to serve the family of Edward Jack "Chizzy" Covacevich.