Floyd E. Wright Sr., age 97, passed from this earth and graduated to the presence of the Lord on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 (which also was his 74th wedding anniversary). Bro. Wright was born on December 12, 1922 in Millville, NJ to the late Clarence J. Wright Sr. and Laura (Brown) Wright. As the fifth of eight children from this union, and the last surviving child, he was the patriarch of the extended Wright family.

At the age of three, Bro. Wright and his family moved to Bridgeton where he attended public school. While a student at Bridgeton High School, he played varsity football and ran track. He was a member of the Bridgeton High School Class of 1942. During World War II, Bro. Wright proudly served his country in the Navy for 2½ years as a Hospital Corpsman with the rank of Pharmacist's Mate Third Class. He received an honorary discharge in 1945. Bro. Wright was employed by Owens Illinois in Bridgeton for 40 years, retiring in 1984 as a crew leader.

Bro. Wright was happily married to Essie Emerson Wright for nearly 52 years before she transitioned to be with the Lord in 1998.

Bro. Wright was a lifetime member of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Bridgeton, where he worshipped faithfully alongside generations of family members for nearly 10 decades. He was Mt. Zion's oldest member. As a child, he attended Sunday School, served in the Christian Endeavors, and also belonged to the Boy Scouts who held their meetings at Mt. Zion.

Bro. Wright labored humbly and diligently for many years as a member of the Trustee Board, sang baritone on the Voices of Faith Choir and Men's Choir. He was also a longtime member of the Finance Committee and served as co-chairman of Men's Day programs. Bro. Wright was a loyal and devoted senior saint who was among the Atlantic City Conference's first honorees as an "Unsung Hero."

When he was not tending to his yard, working at the church, reading the paper, or figuring out crossword and Sudoko puzzles, Bro. Wright enjoyed vacationing with his children and grandchildren. He has traveled from coast to coast on the continental United States and Hawaii. Bro. Wright also vacationed in Canada, Mexico, England, and throughout the Caribbean Islands.

Bro. Wright is survived by nine children, Lauretta Mays (Charles), Floyd E. Wright Jr., Laymon Wright (Addie), Teresa Graves, Barbara Matthews, Kevin Wright (Beryl), Arletha Lane, Frances Carter (Newlin), and Kenneth Wright; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, with another great-grandchild due in December 2020. He also is survived by his godson Jamaal Hall, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church family and friends.

In addition to his parents and his wife Essie, Bro. Wright was predeceased by his seven siblings, Jesse, Robert, Henrietta, Clarence, Calvin, Bettie, and Benjamin; a daughter-in-law Joyce Wright; son-in-law Steven Lane Sr.; and grandsons Jermaine Davis, Kenneth Wright Jr. and Kurtis Wright.