William ("Bill") Howell Bright

Bill is survived by his beloved wife and partner of seventeen years, Mary Huff Bright, of Brookhaven, Georgia; his son, Stephen T. Bright, of Las Vegas, Nevada; his daughter, Sarah (“Sally”) L. Bright, of Atlanta, Georgia; his cousin, Robert L. Byrum, Jr. and his wife, Sally, of Charlotte, North Carolina; and his cousin, Ernest R. Dauray, Jr. and his wife, Denise, of Alexandria, Virginia.

Bill was born on January 18, 1942 in Greensboro, North Carolina to Samuel White Bright and Miriam Louise Howell Bright. He was the grandson of Wiley Anderson Howell and Ida Cox Howell of Raleigh, North Carolina. Bill grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and attended Greensboro Senior High School (now, Grimsley), graduating in 1960. He then obtained his B.A. from Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1964.

Bill proudly served in the United States Army Reserve, honorably completing his service in 1971.

Bill began his career as a logistics manager for General Electric, where he worked nearly 20 years. Over the course of his professional career in logistics, he lived in many states including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Georgia, New York, Illinois, and Ohio. Bill transitioned his career to recruiting, specializing in logistics, his area of expertise. His career as a recruiter spanned four decades, which he enjoyed greatly through the rest of his life, completing a placement just a few days before his death.

Bill loved working as a logistics manager and recruiter. He enjoyed solving problems, and helping job-seeking candidates live up to their professional potential. He is very fondly remembered by his surviving lifelong friends, including Tod Lamb and Mike Thompson. He had a passion for running in his younger years, calling it “free therapy”, completing many 10K runs, half marathons, as well as two marathons. He is lovingly remembered for his kind nature, ability to connect with others, humorous spirit, extraordinary work ethic, and his unwavering loyalty and commitment to family and friends. He adored his wife, Mary, his children, and the ensemble of stray cats that strolled into Bill and Mary’s home and became family members.

His funeral service will be held at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, 3110 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30319 on Saturday, March 23 at 1 pm.

Memorial gifts may be made to Atlanta Food Bank (engage.acfb.org).