Dr. James William Wright

December 17, 1932 - December 3, 2018

Dr. James William Wright, 85 of Columbia, South Carolina died in the early morning hours of December 3, 2018 at his home with his loving family at his bedside. He was born December 17, 1932 in Newark, New Jersey to the late William Taft and Evelyn Maxwell Wright. Funeral services will be held on Saturday December 8, 2018 at 11 am at Second Calvary Baptist Church of Mason Road Columbia, SC with interment to follow in Green Lawn Memorial Park. These services have been entrusted to A. A. Dicks Funeral Home Sullivan Chapel of Columbia, South Carolina In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bridging The Gap With Alpha, Inc.P. O. Box 12764 Columbia, SC. 29211 He attended the public schools of Newark, New Jersey. In 1954, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Winston-Salem Teachers College (now Winston-Salem State University). He later earned a Master of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Seton Hall University in 1962 and a Doctor of Education Degree in Administration and Supervision from Rutgers University in 1977. Dr. Wright had a successful career as an educator, ascending from Teacher to Principal to Superintendent. He worked in Newark Public Schools in New Jersey and Richland District One and Orangeburg School Districts in South Carolina. On October 27, 1956, he married Helen Frances Clarkson. They reared two daughters. Dr. Wright was a member of Second Calvary Baptist Church, participating in the choir and serving as a member of The Trustee's Ministry. He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and an active member of its local chapter, Omicron Iota Lambda. He is predeceased by his wife, Helen. He is survived by his daughters, Holly and Hope Wright; his grandson, Christopher James Sanders; his sister, Janet Banks; and a host of other relatives and friends.