By Sarah Calams
DICKINSON, Texas — A Texas correctional officer died Friday from COVID-19 complications.
The Daily News reported that Elizabeth Jones, a 19-year veteran correctional officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, is the first COVID-19-related death to occur at the Carole Young Unit in Dickinson.
Jones, 58, tested positive for the novel coronavirus on July 29 and was hospitalized on August 6. She was transferred to another hospital in Houston on August 8, where she later died.
“Elizabeth was loved by all and was truly the heartbeat of the unit,” said Carole Young Unit Senior Warden Kim Massey. “She was an inspiration to all of us and will never be replaced or forgotten by her fellow officers. Officer Elizabeth Jones will be missed dearly.”
Jones is one of 19 TDCJ employees to die from COVID-19.