Dorothy "Dot" M. Wright

Dorothy M. Wright best known as Dot Wright, 85, passed away on October 29, 2021 peacefully at home. She was born as Dorothy Marie Foote in Taylorsville, NC on March 24, 1936. She was raised by her grandparents until she was eight, where she had many fond memories of sleeping in the smoke house with her granddaddy during tobacco season and picking cotton with her gradmother. She moved to Hampton with her mother, Ethel Lamb (later becoming Ethel Garris) and her husband, helping in the restaurant to bake pies as she grew into a teenager. She would say she wasn’t successful in marriage after surviving two divorces. She worked at Langley AFB as a single parent raising two children for many years. She worked as the area Tupperware consultant enjoying her largest party on Tangier Island.

On June 8, 1968, she married Robert A. Wright, DVM and together they cross adopted their four children (Nancy, Janis, Mike and Judy). His oldest daughter, Cheryl, was soon to be married. Dot and Alan enjoyed community involvement, political campaigns, their family and traveling the world, especially St. Maarten’s, specifically the Belair Resort. She had special memories of her time on the island with her visits spanning more than 40 years. She’d say "oh the stories I can tell".

Dot was very active in the Virginia Medical Veterinary Association Auxiliary, was the President of the Women’s Virginia Auxiliary from 1971-1972, Woman of the Year 1975, President of the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary 1995-1996, and served on the Board of the Peninsula SPCA and Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 1990-1993.

In 1974, Dot entered the real estate industry with Abbitt Realty where a whole new world opened to her. She excelled quickly becoming Rookie of the Year 1975, Salesperson of the Year 1976, and Manager of the Year 1980.

In 1986, she opened her own real estate business called Dot Wright Realty. Working hard she developed a staff of 50 agents when in 1998 she sold the business to Long & Foster Realtors due to her husband, Alan’s health.

In 1992, Dot returned to real estate as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Abbitt Realty until her retirement in 2015. She recognized her successful career was because of her mentors, those who helped obtain the land, helped to develop it and the wonderful realtors she worked with that made it all possible.

Dot was on the bank board at BB&T for many years and on the Regional Bank Board at Old Point National Bank from 2006 to 2021. She always commented about how much she enjoyed her bank board experiences and the great people who worked alongside her on the board.

Dot is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Alan Wright (2001) and her daughter, Nancy Wright Staton (2009). She is survived by her son, Michael J. Wright; daughters, Janis W. Thayer (Gary), Judy W. Mashburn; stepdaughter, Cheryl Morton (Kevin) and her grandchildren Jacob M. Mashburn, Ashley T. Haynes (Andrew), Brandy Saul, and Meagan T. Dancer (Chad).

The family will receive friends 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA 23666. A Celebration of Dot's life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 4, 2021 in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Parklawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Peninsula SCPA would be appreciated.

To view Dorothy Wright's Memorial Service follow this link:

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