Richard Leroy Wright

At 104 years of age, Mr. Richard Wright of Charlotte passed away on January 24, 2021, at Asbury Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was predeceased by his wife, Sara Benfield Wright, his father, David Lawson Wright, his mother, Sarah Della Lester, his brothers, Lawson Wright, George Wright, Harvey Wright, and Walter Wright, and his sisters, Ruth Smith and Nora Hall. He was born Richard Leroy Wright in Summerfield, North Carolina, on May 4, 1916. After his high school graduation and a partial year of college, Mr. Wright was employed by Greyhound Corporation as a driver. Early in his career he met and married Sara Louise Benfield. They lived in Atlanta during the early years of their marriage and then settled in Charlotte to raise their daughters. They were married for 69 years.

For 38 years Richard drove for the Greyhound Corporation and in the last 35 years of his tenure showed no accidents that were charged to him. After retiring from Greyhound, he was asked to organize the parts department at Luwa Corporation and then managed that department. Later, when the Hampton Inn was built in the University area, he took the position as breakfast host, where he was told that their coffee urns had never been cleaner. Whatever he did, he took pride in doing it well.

His annual vegetable garden was a source of many delicious meals for his family, an abundance of vegetables to can and freeze for later months, as well as plenty to share with family and friends.

Richard was a maker of many things, but too modest to allow himself to be called a skilled craftsman. He became interested in working with leather, learning to do tooled designs. He made such things as wallets, belts, moccasins, and notebook binders. He loved woodworking and spent many hours in his shop. He recognized the various kinds of wood and appreciated the patterns in the grain. Among the things he made were bookcases, rocking horses and doll beds for his grandchildren, hollow wooden blocks and toy trucks for the church weekday kindergarten, recipe book holders, carved animal napkin rings, and a myriad of things that were sold at his church’s annual craft bazaar. Richard expanded his skill and learned to make dollhouses, one of which was recognized at the Southern Christmas Show. He was a lifelong learner.

Richard was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Eastern Star.

As an active member of The Grove Presbyterian Church (formerly Hickory Grove Presbyterian Church), he served as a deacon and an elder, helped with the annual craft bazaar/barbecue as well as the annual Hickory Grove Fourth of July Parade and festivities. He participated with Charlotte Presbytery’s gleaning efforts, picking fruits and vegetables for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Richard is survived by his two daughters, Libba Hicks of Charlotte and Judith Wright of Matthews, grandson, Bill Hicks and his wife, Alicia of Falls Church, VA, granddaughters, Sara Hicks-West and her husband, Jon of Atlanta, GA, and Jennifer Stout of Hillsborough, NC, great-granddaughters, Zoe Hicks of Falls Church, VA and Aura West of Atlanta, GA.

A memorial service to celebrate Richard’s life will be held at a date TBD via Zoom. Logon information is available by sending your email request to [email protected].

Memorial gifts may be made to The Grove Church, 5735 E. W. T. Harris Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28215.