Closing chapter of a great love story

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>'Closing chapter of a great love story'</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline>Eric Coverley reinterred, awaits wife, Miss Lou at National Heroes Park</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>BY ALICIA DUNKLEY Observer staff reporter
Monday, August 07, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>Distinguished Jamaican actor and impresario Eric Coverley was yesterday reinterred at National Heroes Park in Kingston, three days before his recently deceased wife, Louise 'Miss Lou' Bennett-Coverley, will be laid to rest beside him in what veteran journalist and playwright Barbara Gloudon described as "the closing chapter in a great love story".<P class=StoryText align=justify>According to Gloudon, the love shared by the Coverleys rivalled classic romances like Romeo and Juliet and Tristan and Isolde. "I am here to tell you that they loved each other very, very, very much," Gloudon told the small gathering of close friends and family members of the couple.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=360 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Journalist and playwright Barbara Gloudon giving the memorial at yesterday's reinterment of Jamaican actor and impresario Eric Coverley at National Heroes Park in Kingston. Coverley's wife, Louise 'Miss Lou' Bennett-Coverley, will be buried beside him on Wednesday afternoon after an official funeral service at Coke Methodist Church in downtown Kingston. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Eric Coverley passed away in Canada in 2002, was buried in that country and a memorial service held in his honour in Jamaica. However, in fulfilment of the last wishes of Miss Lou to be buried beside her husband, Coverley's remains were flown home with hers on Saturday.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Miss Lou passed away in Canada on July 26.
Noting that it was only fitting that Miss Lou would be buried beside her husband, Gloudon said, "Miss Lou will arrive on Wednesday. He (Coverley) gone down to make sure everything alright." The quip drew a ripple of laughter from the gathering.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Gloudon described Coverley as a great man who provided Miss Lou with support and back-up, adding that many "great men had been known to provide support for great women".<P class=StoryText align=justify>In a moment akin to the ones in which both individuals had drawn laughter from their respective audiences, Gloudon noted that after having sung It Was Under The Coconut Tree together in life, the couple would now rest under a Poinsettia tree which overhung the burial spot.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Coverley, she said, was a great Methodist and an artist extraordinaire.
Yesterday, 84-year-old Frank Gordon, a trade unionist and long-time friend of Coverley, told the Observer that he was proud to be able to witness the reinterment of the man he had known well in life.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Clutching a pair of decorative hands clasped in prayer which were used to decorate the coffin but later detached by Coverley's son Fabian and distributed to some guests, Gordon said though Miss Lou's passing was a "great loss to the Arts, it enriches lives. To bring them back to Jamaica is a great joy. She has left a legacy that can't die".<P class=StoryText align=justify>A cultural connoisseur, actor, radio personality and humourist, Coverley was also a show producer. In fact, it was he who gave Miss Lou her first gig.
He has also played in several Jamaican pantomimes and movies. Among the films was Dr No, the first of the James Bond series, sections of which were filmed in Jamaica.<P class=StoryText align=justify>In addition to Fabian, Coverley's grandson Clayton Coverley, as wel

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RE: Closing chapter of a great love story

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Eric Coverley reburied at Heroes Park
published: Monday | August 7, 2006

Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter


Left: Policemen remove a flag that was draped over the coffin of Eric Coverley, as well-wishers look on during a service held at National Heroes Park in Kingston, yesterday. Mr. Coverley died in Canada in 2002. He was buried there but his body was exhumed and transported to the island to be reburied at National Heroes Park in Kingston with his wife Louise Bennett-Coverley. She will be buried on Wednesday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer Right: Miss Lou with husband Eric Coverley in 1955. - File

He loved children dearly throughout his life and, as his remains were laid to rest at National Heroes Park in Kingston yesterday, dozens turned out to see Eric 'Chalk Talk' Coverley off.

They gathered at the graveside as his coffin lay waiting to be lowered into the ground and listened intently as friends told stories of the celebrated actor, radio personality and comic.

They may not have been around in Mr. Coverley's heyday but, as one bare-footed youngster explained, it was enough that he was married to 'Miss Lou'.

A few family members, friends and well-wishers gathered for the short ceremony that took place in the evening breeze.

Resting together

Long-time friend Barbara Gloudon pointed out that both Mr. Coverley and his wife Louise Bennett-Coverley would have been happy that so many children turned out for the service.

Beside Mr. Coverley's final resting place was another empty grave. Miss Lou will be buried there on Wednesday. The graves are located at a section of the park designated for cultural icons and are only a few feet away from the grave of fellow cultural giant, Ranny Williams.

Mr. Coverley died in Canada in 2002 and was buried in that country. When his wife, Miss Lou, died on July 26 this year, the decision was taken to exhume his remains so they could be buried together in Jamaica. This was to honour a request by Miss Lou.

Traffic changes for Miss Lou's funeral

A number of streets in downtown Kingston will be closed to regular vehicular traffic on Wednesday to facilitate the church service and interment of the late Louise Bennett-Coverley (Miss Lou).

Except for VIP parking, which will be allowed at the Ward Theatre at North Parade and at the intersection of East Queen Street and East Parade, no traffic will be permitted at National Heroes Circle, King Street, Duke Street, Barry Street, Parade and Church Street.

Police personnel will be on hand to direct traffic and members of the public are being asked to adhere to the directions.

Procession route

Miss Lou, who died in Canada on July 26 at age 86, has been accorded an official funeral, which will be held at the Coke Methodist Church at East Parade.

Her body will be transported from the Sam Isaacs Funeral Home in a convoy which will move north along Hanover Street and continue west on to Barry Street. The convoy will then go north along King Street up to South Parade.

Continuing on the defined route, the funeral procession will then go west along South Parade to West Parade, then north along West Parade until it reaches North Parade. The convoy will then turn east along North Parade going up to Coke Methodist Church for the official funeral service at 2:00 p.m.

After the thanksgiving service, the procession will go east on to East Queen Street, turning left on to Duke Street and going north up to South Heroes Circle for interment at National Heroes Park.

Entry to the park will be permitted via the south gate, which may