Rachel Hunter Ray Wright, 80, of Eden, NC, died at home on April 12, 2016, following a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.
A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, April 30, at The Church of the Epiphany, 538 Henry Street, Eden, NC with burial to follow at Lawson Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Fair Funeral Home, April 29, from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Rachel was born in Leaksville (now Eden) July 7, 1935, to the late Dr. S. Philip Ray and Bessie Clark Ray. She was preceded in death by her former husband, Richard Cort Wright, and by her sister, Vivian Ray Tate. Her survivors include her sons, Hunter C. Wright (Donna) of Pfafftown, NC; Philip E. Wright (Kimberly), Wake Forest, NC; and Commander George C. Wright (Arnheidur), Stuttgart, Germany. Her six grandchildren include Benjamin Wright, Rexburg, Idaho; Jesse Wright and Caleb Wright, Wake Forest, NC; and Embla Georgesdottir, Ellert Georgesson, and Erla Georgesdottir of Stuttgart, Germany, sister, Lucie Lane Gravely formerly of Martinsville and more recently of Eden. She leaves behind four beloved nieces Shannon Wilkes (James), Reine Moore (Richard), Elizabeth Gravely (Ralph), and Lane Kubich; two nephews, Benjamin Gravely and Frank Gravely; and cousin, Margaret Ray Scott (Tom) of Chapel Hill, NC; as well as a host of beloved relatives and friends.
Ms. Wright graduated from the first class of Tri-City High School and attended Salem College for two years. She was a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and Education. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority.
She taught English at Morehead High School for twenty years. She was also an instructor of Effective Teacher Training at Rockingham Community College. She taught GED classes at RCC for eight years after retirement.
Ms. Wright was devoted to her sons, family, and friends. She was a life-long learner, enjoying many classes at UNCG’s Emeritus Society, Adventures in Ideas at UNC-CH, and conferences at Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonvile, NC.
She loved to read and to write articles for the Greensboro News and Record. Hospitality was important to her, and her home was opened to many to enjoy. One of her favorite memories was making turkey hash for a large group of local boys the day after Thanksgiving. She loved her pets, many cats, and especially her dog Eppie.
While living in Winston-Salem, NC for twenty years, Ms. Wright was active in various areas such as The Junior League of Winston-Salem, The Winston-Salem City Schools, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Ms. Wright always honored a commitment to public service, which she felt was part of our price for living in a Democracy. She was a lifelong Democrat and Chairman of the Rockingham County Democratic Party for two terms in the 1980’s. She served six years as a member and chair of the Rockingham County Board of Elections until 2013. She headed Congressman Stephen Neal’s campaign for election and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco in 1984. She attended the first inauguration of President Bill Clinton in Washington, DC. She personally met President Barack Obama in Hawaii, and the family photo taken was displayed on The White House’s website Christmas Day. President Obama called her “his North Carolina grandmother.” She loved her many friends in Eden who were always ready to give her a ride, go to a movie, go out to lunch, and to laugh and cry when needed.
Memorials may be made to Rockingham County Community College Foundation, PO Box 38, Wentworth, NC; to Church of the Epiphany, 538 Henry Street, Eden, NC; or to the Democratic Party, https://my.democrats.org/page/contribute/donate-to-help-democrats-today.
Online condolences may be offered at www.fairfuneralhome.com
