Rev. Henry William Wright
Rev. Henry William Wright, 88, of Bendingwood Circle, Taylors, SC, passed away in the loving care of his family and the staff of Gentiva Hospice Care on Sunday, June 14, 2015, at 11:58 a.m.
Trinity Fellowship, 3610 Brushy Creek Rd, Greer, SC, will host his 2 p.m. memorial service on Saturday, June 27, 2015. A private cremains committal will follow the service. Rev. Lee Athey will officiate.
His often-expressed wish was to share a Sunday morning sermon, say the benediction, sit in his pulpit chair, and slip away to Heaven. Those present noted the time of his death and shared a chuckle–just in time for the benediction.
Mr. Wright was born in Alligator (Tyrrell County), North Carolina. He served in the U.S. Navy at the end of WWII on board the Gearing Class Destroyer U.S.S. Kenneth D. Bailey. Because he was on board the U.S.S. Bailey’s maiden voyage, he is a “Certified Plank Owner”.
After leaving the Navy, he graduated from Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God (now Southeastern University) in Lakeland, Florida. He was an Assembly of God pastor for over 60 years serving churches from the North Carolina Outer Banks to the North Carolina mountains and upstate of South Carolina.
In 1966, he and his family moved to Greer, SC, where he served First Assembly of God for almost thirty years. He was Chaplain of the Greer (SC) Fire Department as well as the SC State Firefighter’s Association.
He had a special place in his heart for “Home Missions” work, especially work among America’s Native American population.
He enjoyed doing handyman jobs for family and friends. Other than playing with his grandsons, he was never happier than if he had a tool in his hands.
He loved listening to religious and Celtic music and watching movies from the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s.
He was smitten with his grandsons who loved and served him well right up to the end. He said his older grandson, “…grabbed my finger and stole my heart…” upon their first meeting. In the waning days of his life, he was eager to hear of his youngest grandson’s day-to-day exploration of faith and doctrine and was blessed to know both young men love the Lord.
He loved and appreciated both sons-in-law for the kind and sacrificial ways they served him, especially after his wife’s death in 2010.
His wife of 61 years, Anne Chambers Perry Wright, his parents, H. W. Wright, Sr. and Elva Elizabeth Mitchell Wright Folk, his wonderful stepfather, Pressley K. Folk, and his brother, Milton Lee Wright, predeceased him.
He is survived by his children: Lloyd Wright, Carol Anne (Jeffrey) Swett, Beth Lyn (Guy) Creasy, as well as his grandsons, William and Isaac Swett, all of Greenville County.
He is also survived by a brother, Thomas (Frank) Wright, and sisters, Elizabeth Basnight and Rose Waller, all of the Fayetteville, North Carolina, area.
In lieu of flowers, please show love and appreciation to your own pastor and ask what you can do for him.
You may also make donations to any of the following organizations in his honor:
All Tribes Assembly of God, 1710 West Highland Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85015 to support their ministry to Native Americans.
The SC State Firefighter’s Association Scholarship Fund via: SC State Firefighters’ Foundation, PO Box 211725, Columbia, SC 29221
Miracle Hill Ministries: https://miraclehill.org/make-a-donation/
The American Leprosy Mission for Nepal earthquake relief: http://www.leprosy.org/
