Martha W. Wright

January 31, 1925 - January 6, 2017

Martha Ellen Wade Wright was born in Rembert, South Carolina on January 31, 1925 and departed this life on January 6, 2017 at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. She was the fifth of eleven children born to the late Reverend Marion L. Wade and Meta Wade Jones. Mrs. Wright was a prominent member of Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church in Rembert, South Carolina. She served faithfully in many capacities which included: Missionary President for 50+ years, Chairperson of the Program Committee, Director of Vacation Bible School, member of the YWA, the Pastor’s Aide, Chairperson of the Pastor’s Anniversary Committee, the Women’s Baptist E&M Convention and the Wateree Baptist Association Lower Division. A staunch minded civic leader and supporter, Mrs. Wright was also a member of the High Hills Rural Water Board, the Sumter Chamber of Commerce and a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Martha graduated from Morris High School, and then went on to Morris College, graduating in 1947. She earned her Master’s Degree from Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia in 1968. She taught school in Sumter School Districts #2 and #17, in Naha, Okinawa, and the Lee County Public School System. In 1971, she was hired as the Air Force’s first licensed Education Guidance Counselor and became the Base Education Services Officer in 1979 at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. She retired in 2001 after 30 years of service. She was the first black female Education Service Officer (ESO) in the Air Force’s Air Combat Command and the first and only female ESO at Shaw AFB, Sumter. In 1976, Martha was the first female in South Carolina to receive the Silver Beaver Scouting Award for her work as Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 202. Martha married William C. Wright on March 1, 1952. To this union three children were born: William S. Wright, Debbie Wright Singletary and Wayne A. Wright. She was preceded in death by her husband, William C. Wright and son William S. Wright; sisters: Meta W. George and Carolyn Wade; brothers, Marion and Martin Wade; brothers-in-law: Albert George, Rev. Brookward Bush, Ernest King, and James Williams; sisters-in-law: Elizabeth Wade, Edna Wade and Rosa Lee Wade . Those left to cherish her memories are: daughter, Debbie Singletary; son, Brigadier General Wayne (Jeanette) Wright; daughter-in-law Tanya Wright; six grandchildren: Jessica(Jeremy) Johns , Kelly Wright, Justin (Caitlin) Wright, Adrienne Singletary, Michael C. Wright, and Dawson Wright; two great-grandchildren Noah and Haley Johns, sisters: Mary(Jacob) Moore , Florence Bush, Myrteen King, and Annie Mae Williams, brothers: Simon R. Wade and Horace (Albertha) Wade, and a host of other relatives and friends.