John “Norman” Foxworth Sr., founder of Dependable Glass Works Inc., died on Oct. 15, 2026, at his home in Waldheim, Louisiana, surrounded by family and loved ones.
Foxworth was born on May 26, 1941, in Richton, Mississippi, as one of 13 children. From a young age, Foxworth and his siblings worked as farm laborers, hoeing cotton, picking beans and sharecropping in each small town where his father, a Pentecostal minister, served to help support the household. According to his obituary, he credited his success in both sports and life to the qualities gained while farming throughout his childhood.
Foxworth moved to Covington, Louisiana, at 14 and enrolled at Covington High School, where he starred in football and track and field. It was also there that he met Joy, his high school sweetheart and future wife. As a newlywed, Foxworth worked at several of his in-laws’ businesses in downtown Covington, including Miley’s Glass. There, he learned the glass business from the ground up and, before long, set out to make his own mark on the industry.
“Out of high school, I married a lady whose father was in the glass business, and he encouraged me to come work for him,” Foxworth told USGlass in 2021. He said that after several years of learning the glass industry from his father-in-law, as well as from another glass shop owner in nearby St. Tammany Parish, he was ready to venture out and start his own business.
Building Dependable Glass
Foxworth founded Dependable Glass Works in 1967 as a one-person shop. He grew the small business venture into a national company in the glass industry, fabricating specialized glass products for customers locally, across the country and worldwide.
“I was the only employee,” explained Foxworth. “As I was starting, windshields were a big business for small glass shops. I was fortunate because I had a friend who asked if he could invest in the business with me. He and I became the owners, and he gave me a little more insight into how to run a business … [which means] treating yourself like an employee.”
His obituary notes that the windshields of every Boeing 747 jet have passed through Dependable Glass for initial fabrication since 1996. The company’s glass can also be seen on the exterior of One World Trade Center in New York, as well as inside the Superdome in New Orleans and on nearly every high-rise building and hotel in The Big Easy.
A Lasting Legacy
During his nearly 60 years as CEO of Dependable Glass Works, Foxworth became a pillar in the Covington community. He served as president and a member of the board of directors for the Covington Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized with the “Legacy Award” by the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Louisiana welcoming committee to the French ambassador, a krewe captain and a member of the Mystic Krewe of Olympia, among other accolades. During the holiday season, from the late 1980s through the early 2000s, he built and ran Waldheim Christmas Tree Farm.
Foxworth is pre-deceased by his wife of 47 years, Joy Lynn Miley Foxworth; and his daughter, Jill Renee Foxworth. He is survived by his current wife, Beth Foxworth; his son, John Foxworth, Jr; grandchildren, Connor Foxworth (Jordyn) and Ashley Fernandez (Jason); along with his two step-daughters, Katee Laborde (Brian) and Amy Rivet (Brian); and step-grandchildren, Evan and Spencer Laborde and John Rivet.
In lieu of flowers, Foxworth’s family prefers that donations be sent to Dove Park Church of God, located at 925 Grey Lane, Covington, Louisiana, 70433.
Norman was a true southern gentleman. Soft spoken, knowledgeable and willing to share his knowledge with those that came into contact with him. I have fond memories of my sales calls to Dependable. RIP Norman.
Norman liked to do new things, push the boundaries, and was extremely knowledgeable. I really enjoyed my visits to Covington LA.