If you want to see the true tragedy of the COVID-19 coronavirus on Mississippi, look no further than this obituary for a Mississippi couple that both died of the virus on Wednesday as they held one another’s hand.

Jerry Austin Williamson and his wife of more than 50 years Frances Jewel Bond Williamson, both 72 years old, died from the virus.

Jerry was a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and served in the U.S. Navy and was retired from his work at the U.S. Naval Home in Gulfport, Mississippi. His obituary read that he “was born with Alabama Crimson Tide blood and remained a lifelong, loyal fan.”

Frances was a Mississippi native, having been born in Wiggins, Mississippi. She was a retired phlebotomist.

Both were members of the North Long Beach Baptist Church. Jerry served as a deacon while Frances served on the church’s flower committee.

Sadly, like so many who are dying during the coronavirus crisis, many of their friends and family will not be able to physically show their love for this couple at their joint funeral.

Instead they are invited to attend the funeral virtually as it’s livestreamed on Jerry’s obituary page at www.riemannfamily.com at 10 a.m. on Monday.