05/25/2022
The Rev. Phillip Barry Wright, age 72 of Hendersonville, Tennessee, passed away Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at his home surrounded by his family under the care of Alive Hospice. With a courageous heart and a deep, unwavering faith, he waged a valiant, prolonged fight against numerous diseases, procedures, and surgeries, finally losing his battle with cancer. Throughout his ordeals and hospitalizations, his wife, Cathy, stayed by his side strongly advocating for his care.
Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, May 27, 2022, at White House First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Travis Garner officiating. Private burial will be in the Wright-Peach family cemetery at Suggs Creek with Mike Flanagan, Jimmy Atwood, Ronnie Black, Stephen Wright, Benjamin Wright, and Allen Wright as pallbearers.
Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, in the White House First UMC Fellowship Hall.
He was born in Donelson, Tennessee, to the late Harold Bell Wright and Lila Walker Wright. He was also preceded in death by his brother Clifford Lewis Wright.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and Master of Divinity Degree from Vanderbilt University. He was an ordained pastor of the Tennessee Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church serving five United Methodist churches during his over 30 years of ministry: Nunnelly-Kedron, Spring Hill First, Hendersonville First, Mt. Pleasant First, and White House First. He retired in 2016.
He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 37 years, Cathy Anne Cole Wright; sons, Stephen Wright (Criscia Monteiro) Wright and Benjamin (Margaret Ann Brinson Wright) Wright. Sisters, Eloise Wright Viera(Don Viera) Viera and Glenda Wright. Brother, Allen (Becca Brown) Wright. Granddaughters, Alice Morgan Wright and Lucy Bell Wright and grandson (on the way), André João Wright.
The “Rev” will be remembered for helping and touching the lives of many, whether they were in a congregation he served or not. He had an incredible knowledge and understanding of the Bible, a great intellect, and the sincere ability to connect with anyone and everyone in all walks of life. He never lost his faith. He loved his family, loved others, loved life, loved learning, loved history, loved literature, loved golf, loved UT, loved his books, loved his country, loved his ministry, and loved the Lord. He will be remembered for his countless acts of compassion to many, obedience to the Word, and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He was truly one-of-a-kind, or as one of his sons says, one-of-one.
