Husband, Keith Covin, and son Jamaal Covin holding Portrait
Neptune, NJ - Family and friends came out to celebrate the life and legacy of Renee’ Covin, a business woman and community activist, on August 18th. Renee’ Covin’s Day in the township of Neptune, NJ was proclaimed on August 18th, 2000 by Mayor Kevin B. McMillian, after Renee’ passed away from complications of Lupus on August 14th 2000. After years of acknowledging this day, Renee’s husband, daughter, and son thought it would be special to donate the proclamation, a picture, and story on who Renee’ Covin was in the township public library.
The ceremony began with prayer led by Renee’s cousin, Kat Stokes followed by a spiritual song by family friend, Kevin Cheatham. Renee’s daughter, Chenelle Renee’, spoke about who her mother was and the long lasting legacy she left. Reading from a framed paper, that will later be hanged at the library, Chenelle described her mother as a being a business woman and community leader who also excelled academically. When during her junior year at Howard University she found out she had Lupus.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body’s natural defense system ( immune system) attacks its own tissues instead of attacking foreign substance like bacteria and viruses. This causes inflammation. Inflammation causes swelling, pain, and tissue damage throughout the body. If you develop severe lupus, you may have problems with your kidneys, heart, lungs, nervous system, or blood cells. Lupus is the common name for systemic lupus erythematosus, also called SLE.
Renee’ danced all the time especially doing the hustle. But she would eventually complain about her finger tips being sore and joints hurting so much every time she would dance. The music of the 70’s and 80’s were great and it seemed like everyone had dance fever. But for Renee’ it was becoming more and more painful for her to dance. Renee’ never associated the pain that she was having with LUPUS.
Renee’ first learned that she had lupus the summer going into her junior year at Howard University. She was excited to be going back to the school of her dreams. Although the painful wart-like spots on her hands and the beginning of hair foliage did strike her funny, Renee’ never thought she contributes these conditions to a devastating disease that almost took her life at the tender age of twenty.
The pain in her joints began to get worse and the small bald patches became big bald spots. She decided to take advantage of the free medical services offered by Howard University and spoke with a dermatologist. Her main concern was to learn the medical terminology for the dark patches that were present on her face and how they could be removed. She explained, to a Dr. Alexander, that since age 10, she had been seeing a dermatologist for her skin problem and have been going through a series of treatments to alleviate the problem. After listening to her story and examining Renee’s face, the doctor decided to take a “diagnostic guess” on her problem. He said “Ms. Logan, I think what you may have is called Lupus, but let me check.” He searched through a book. “Yes, I was right; you have Lupus.” The impression that Renee’ got from his tone of voice and attitude was that she was suppose to give him a ‘star for the day for guessing one right’. But he never explained to her what Lupus was, and she was still under the impression that it was a skin disorder. She asked him about the possibility of derm abrasion, a process that removes the top layers of skin, but he advised her against it – due to the uniqueness and delicacy of black skin, and the possible development of Keloids. Although he did advise her to use sample medicated ointments for her scalp and any upcoming rashes that may appear on her face, and to return in two weeks, he should have advised her on the severity of Lupus and exactly what it was.
Renee’ passed away on August 14th, 2000 at the tender age of 41. Even on her last days Renee’ had a great spirit for life and will to fight this disease. Renee became more involved in Lupus and even wanted to eventual go to medical school to do research on the disease.
“But one thing about Renee’, she never let the grass grow underneath her feet and was a person that had many talents.” said Chenelle Covin.
After her daughter graciously read about whom her mother was, Renee’s son Jamaal Keith revealed a portrait painted by Renee’s childhood friend Alcadio Laguer. The life-like painting made it feel like Renee’ was in the room.
Renee’s husband, Keith Covin, thanked the Director of the Neptune Township Public Library and the McMillian family for making this day a reality.
The portrait and reading on Lupus and Renee’ Covin will hang in the library for the duration of several years in Renee’s honor. People can enter the library to learn more about Lupus and the life and legacy Renee’ left behind.
For those interested in donating to the Lupus foundation, you can visit Lupus Organization
