Jerry Williamson and his wife Frances Williamson died minutes apart, still honding hands’ after the contracted Covid-19 from a cruise ship. (Picture: Reimann Family Funeral Homes)

An elderly couple died minutes apart with their hands clasped after they both contracted coronavirus from a cruise ship, their pastor said.

A live-streamed funeral for Jerry Austin Williamson and his wife, Frances Jewel Bond Williamson, was held on Monday in Long Beach, Mississippi after the couple died of the virus last week.

During the virtual service, the pastor said the Jerry and Frances, both 72, died six minutes apart after spending 50 years of marriage together.

The pastor went on to say that the couple died after contracting the virus from a cruise ship, adding that they loved cruises and did not realize how dangerous the virus was at the time, according to The Sun Herald.




It is unclear which cruise the couple took before contracting the virus.

Frances and Jerry leave behind two children, Delora Williamson Ingerson and Jerry Williamson II, as well as other relatives.

During their funeral, a US flag was draped over Jerry Williamson’s casket in honor of his longtime service to the Navy, where he was employed until his retirement as a public works supervisor in Gulfport.

Frances reportedly worked as a phlebotomist, which is a health care worker who specializes in drawing blood from patients.

On an online obituary for the couple, mourners wrote heartfelt tributes to the Williamsons.

One woman who identified herself as Jerry’s sister, wrote: ‘My brother was a wonderful loving person who loved and served God his family and many friends. He would do anything for anyone who needed help. This is a nightmare that we cannot wake up from.’

Another wrote: ‘A wonderful couple! They will be missed. My prayers and heartfelt thoughts to all family. They were good neighbors to us for several years.’