John Thomas Covington was born on June 9, 1900, in Scotland County, North Carolina. During World War I, Covington served as the chief clerk of the Scotland County Exemption Board before resigning his position to voluntarily enlist in the army in July 1918. He served with the 22nd Recruit Company at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, until he was honorably discharged in July 1919. Covington died in Greensboro (Guilford County) on August 19, 1949.