Terryl Gregory Wright passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2015 at his home in Raymond.
Mr. Wright was born October 28, 1918, in Raymond, MS, to Weldon Earl and Donia Verbena Gregory Wright. He was preceded in death by two sisters and six brothers, one of whom died in infancy and another at age two.
He spent his school years in Learned and also Union Church where he met his sweetheart, Irene Holmes, whom he married in 1937. He volunteered at age 25 to serve in World War II upon learning that his younger brother had been taken prisoner of war. Mr. Wright and his three brothers served until the end of the war when they all returned safely home.
Farming was his main livelihood, although he served as Marshall for the town of Raymond and Superintendent of the Hinds County Penal Farm until his retirement in 1988. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren who affectionately called him Pap.
He was a lifelong member of the Reeves Chapel Methodist Church, which in 1965 became Hinds Independent Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings Weldon Earl Wright, Lance Payne Wright, Mabel Glyn Wright Lewis, Carroll Benson Wright, Romuel Wright, Helen Wright Amacker, Hardin Magee Wright, and Marion Wright.
He is survived by his wife of 77 years, Irene Holmes Wright; daughter and son-in-law Carolyn Douglas and Leland Douglas of Raymond; son Dale Wright of Raymond; daughter Janet Saums of Raymond; grandchildren Gary (Jane) Bolton; Teresa (Jimmy) Cox; Kristin Rhodes; Shawn Wright; Lance (Tasha) Wright; Jacob Wright; Elaine (Shawn) McNeal; Robert (Chrisanna) Saums; Patrick (Jessica) Saums; fourteen great grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren. The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Mary Dixon who faithfully and lovingly cared for Mr. Wright for the past four years.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 29, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Hinds Independent Methodist Church with burial immediately following in the church cemetery. Dr. Chris Lohrstorfer will officiate at the graveside service and pallbearers will be Charlie Banes, Lance Wright, Jacob Wright, Robert Saums, Patrick Saums, and Karl Barnes. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Sullivan, Homer Boyd, and Leland Douglas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hinds Independent Methodist Church (building fund), P. O. Box 1226, Raymond, MS 39154.