Patricia Ann Wright

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Patricia Ann Hopson Wright, 83, died Monday, July 1, 2024, in her home in Columbia, Tennessee. She will forever be known and loved for her loyal love, her selfless service, her truth telling, and her faithfulness to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Patricia was born on September 12, 1940, in Andalusia, Alabama to the late A. Lucille Golden and the late David L. Hopson. She trusted Jesus as her Savior when she was nine years old. She attended Headland Avenue Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama along with her mother and brother, David. It was there that she felt like she wanted Jesus to come into her heart. Their pastor came to their house to talk with her at her mother’s request because she had told her she wanted to be saved. They sat by the fireplace as he talked to her, and she accepted Jesus as her Savior. She made her public profession of faith the following Sunday, April 2, 1950, and was baptized that evening. She walked with Jesus faithfully on Earth until she entered His presence in Heaven.

She met Larry Gene Wright at First Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs, Florida in 1956 after her family moved there in 1953. Although they had both lived in Dothan, they didn’t meet until both families moved to Green Cove Springs. After they met, Pat went to Bob Jones Academy in South Carolina while Larry finished high school in Florida. Their love story began in the summer of 1960 while working together with the young people at First Baptist Church. They married on June 16, 1961, in Green Cove Springs then moved to Marshall, Texas to attend East Texas Baptist College. They were married for 63 years. They modeled loving devotion and commitment first to the Lord then to each other for all their children and grandchildren.

She had an impactful and diverse career working for Montgomery Wards, State of Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, State of Texas Health Department, and the University of Houston (Victoria).

Most of all, Patricia found immense joy in serving others everywhere they lived – Texas, Alabama, South Korea, Singapore, Tennessee, Texas (again), and Tennessee (again). She and Larry taught Sunday School for all ages (4 year olds to senior adults) together in many different churches across three states and two countries. While living in Singapore, she also led Vacation Bible School for missionary children in Indonesia and Malaysia. She volunteered with the American Red Cross at Yongsan Army Base in Seoul, Korea, Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center in North Carolina, and Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC). During her years of volunteering at MRMC in the Same Day Surgical Waiting Room, God provided many opportunities to use her gifts of compassion and empathy to encourage and comfort family members of those in surgery.

Patricia was an active member of First Baptist Church of Columbia. She loved her First Family and being a part of the Forever Young small group where she helped in coordinating Operation Christmas Child as well as taking part in mission trips to Rogersville, TN. Gathering women together to attend the Celebrators’ Conference in Pigeon Forge was something she looked forward to each October. Her life was richer because of the friends that God blessed her with through her church family.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Larry G. Wright of Columbia; two daughters, Deborah K. Wolfe Bates (David) of Ellisville, Mississippi and Deanna K. Murray (Larry) of Plano, Texas; brother, David T. Hopson (Sheri) of Klamath Falls, Oregon; four grandchildren, Kaelyn N. Wolfe Owens (Granger) of Hoover, AL, Michael C. Murray (Riley) of Mineral Wells, TX, Lauren E. Murray Blankenship (Seth) of Georgetown, TX and Stephen D. Murray of Plano, TX; great grandson, Oliver J. Owens of Hoover, AL; three brothers-in-law, Ferris Wright (Susan), Wayne Wright (Teresa), and Jim Wright; numerous nieces and nephews; and countless friends all over the world.

She was preceded in death by her parents, A. Lucille Golden, Odell “Red” Golden, and David L. Hopson; her son, Larry Michael “Rusty” Wright; and son-in-law, Jeff L. Wolfe.

Grandsons Granger Owens, Michael Murray, Seth Blankenship, Stephen Murray, son-in-law, David Bates, and Chris Lovin will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are the men from the Forever Young small group.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 5, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Columbia, TN at 3:00pm and led by Rick Blevins, Mike Dawson, Deron Henry, Larry Murray, and Marty Shadoan. The visitation will be on Friday from 1:00 to 3:00pm at the church. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at 2:00pm at Memory Hill Cemetery in Dothan, Alabama. 

Memorials may be made to Columbia First Baptist Church 2790 Pulaski Hwy. Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home will oversee arrangements in Columbia and Ward-Wilson Funeral Home will oversee the graveside service in Dothan, Alabama.