Reverend Linda Bird Wright died on April 5, 2012, after her nearly five-year struggle with lung cancer.
Well-known for her optimism and her immense enthusiasm for ministry, she quickly made friends and disciples for Christ within all the congregations she served: St. Keverne, Lowertown, Helston, Debigna, and St. John’s Methodist Churches in Cornwall, England; Soddy Daisy, Wesley, Unicoi First, Englewood, Mars Hill, Grace, and First Centenary United Methodist Churches within the Holston Conference.
Reverend Wright loved art and music, and incorporated both in her pastoral work. Several of her churches have maintained their hand-bell choir ministries, which she organized within her various pastorates. She was an inveterate reader and student of theology, relishing the challenge of preaching and serving parishioners, particularly those in rural settings.
Linda was a graduate of Covenant College, and operated her own certified public accounting firm in Chattanooga prior to attending seminary. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and was ordained in 1997. She was a longtime member of the conference’s Board of Pensions and for many years she ably served as Secretary of the Annual Conference.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband and partner in ministry, Walter Lee Wright, III; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lee Wright, Jr; and her mother, Joyce Kelly Bird.
She is survived by four cherished children who faithfully cared for her throughout her infirmity: Walter Lee Wright III (Margaret) of Augusta, Ga.; Meredith Wright MaGuirk (David) of Thompson’s Station; Stephanie Wright Stanfield (David) of Medfield, Ma.; and Emily Wright Crawford (Eric) of Kalamazoo, Mi. Close to her heart were her exceptional grandchildren, Alexander Jefferson Wright; James and William Connor MaGuirk; Andrew and Claire Stanfield; Hannah and Seth Crawford. Also surviving are her father, John H. Bird of Americus, Ga.; sister Ellen Bird of Calera, Ala.; brother, Michael Bird (Sue Ann) of Americus, Ga.; niece Kelly Bird of Athens, Ga.; nephew, Chris Bird of Americus, Ga.; sister-in-law Mary Ann Wright Harding (Frank), of Newport, Me.; niece, Laura Harding Brewer (Richard) of Newtonville, Ma.; nephew Frank “Turk” Harding, of Newport, Me.; and niece Elizabeth Harding Levesque (Arthur) of Waterville, Me.
Linda traveled extensively throughout her lifetime, and over the last two years she came to love and esteem the people of South Sudan. It was there in 2010 that she established a large private dwelling for lay workers and mission teams who labor to improve the living conditions and strengthen the faith of the local South Sudanese. She named this missionary home “Captain’s House,” in memory of her late husband, as he was called “Captain” by his grandchildren.
A service of worship and celebration of life for Reverend Wright will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, at First Centenary UMC, Chattanooga, with James Swanson, Presiding Bishop of the Holston Conference; Mary Virginia Taylor, Presiding Bishop of the South Carolina Conference; and Dr. Dwight Kilbourne officiating. A celebratory reception will immediately follow the service in the Cloister of First Centenary UMC.
Memorial gifts may be directed to the Holston Conference Foundation, Attn: South Sudan Orphanage Fund, P.O. Box 900, South Rankin Road, Alcoa, Tn. 37701-0900.
Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist, North Chapel, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.