Progressive Funeral Home History
Since 1952
Having a spirit of unselfishness by wanting to serve others in what many consider the darkest moment in their lives, is what Progressive Funeral Home is all about. In 1952 with $250 in a small change, $50 worth of office furniture, one wool suit, and a prayer that God would sustain him, George Washington Ford opened Progressive Funeral Home, located on Cusseta & Oak View Road in Columbus, Ga. Ford didn’t take credit for his success in business. He gave that to a far greater power than himself, God! With God & Jesus Christ as his manager Ford knew he couldn’t go wrong. Alongside his high school sweetheart the loving Josephine Adele Bozman-Ford, he knew that he wanted to share the compassion for his fellow man and that was in his heart. With this concept they touched the lives of countless people all while becoming a pillar in the community. Through the years they worked tirelessly at their craft. A few years after opening Progressive the couple realized they had out grown their location so they packed up the business and moved to Sixth Avenue. Continuing to be blessed in business they realized yet again, that their facility was being quickly out grown so the decision was made to relocate to the corner of Buena Vista Road and Eight Street. However, Ford was once again faced with the reality that the business was growing expeditiously. In July 1992 George, Josephine and their illustrious staff expanded to our now current location of 4235 St. Mary’s Road.
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What the Fords started with $250 is now a business that is worth in excess of $1,000,000! Although he retired his funeral suit 1993, he didn’t put it in the moth balls. He was still around helping his only child, Evergreen Ford-Covington to operate the business. Until he was called home from labor to reward on October 29, 2008. Only three short months after Mrs. Josephine Ford who was his partner in love, life and business departed. You see, October 30 was her birthday and he just couldn’t miss that. Evergreen and Elbert Covington, along with Bobby J. Davis manager and licensed funeral director/embalmer were trained by an assume leader and today are ready to serve you. Believing that it is nice to be important….but it’s more important to be nice. There is no day to dark, no road to rough and no job to small for us. We offer a variety of services from cremations to military burials and even children services of reflection. We are here to help you celebrate the life of your loved one that was well lived.
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You are invited to visit or facility and compare the services and quality that we have to offer. We are confident that you will find that none other compares. We would appreciate the opportunity to serve your family in any way that we can.
Elbert Covington Sr. – Comptroller; Evergreen F. Covington – CEO
George W. Ford Jr's Impact On Muscogee County
In 1964, George W. Ford. Jr ran for the county commission, making him the first Black person to run for office in Muscogee County in the 20th century. Ford lost the election. He ran again in 1968. And he lost again. But Ford’s loss was a win for African Americans. Because of his determination, he made it possible for African Americans to be elected to local, state and federal offices.
When he was a freshman at Spencer High School, he joined the NAACP as its youngest member in 1939. He later served as president of the NAACP from 1971 to 1973. He established strong communication between black and white citizens in the community. He also helped found the Urban League.
Ford was the first African American appointed to serve on the board at Aflac. John Amos invited him to lunch one day at the Big Eddy Club (all white at the time), making him the first African American to eat there in 1986. Ford also served on the board for CB&T.
Dr. Robert Wright said of Ford, Ford's life was not defined by what he did, but what he did for others. “His knees never got weak, his hands never got tired, his eyes never got dim, and his priorities never got confused.”
Ford passed in 2008, less than a week before the nation elected its first African American President of the United States.
Source: Historic Columbus, Red Clay White Water & Blues - A History of Columbus by Virginia Causey
When he was a freshman at Spencer High School, he joined the NAACP as its youngest member in 1939. He later served as president of the NAACP from 1971 to 1973. He established strong communication between black and white citizens in the community. He also helped found the Urban League.
Ford was the first African American appointed to serve on the board at Aflac. John Amos invited him to lunch one day at the Big Eddy Club (all white at the time), making him the first African American to eat there in 1986. Ford also served on the board for CB&T.
Dr. Robert Wright said of Ford, Ford's life was not defined by what he did, but what he did for others. “His knees never got weak, his hands never got tired, his eyes never got dim, and his priorities never got confused.”
Ford passed in 2008, less than a week before the nation elected its first African American President of the United States.
Source: Historic Columbus, Red Clay White Water & Blues - A History of Columbus by Virginia Causey
