LORA JEAN CARTER WRIGHT

Lora Jean Carter Wright

The Reverend Lora Jean Carter Wright was born August 11, 1916 in Denora, Pennsylvania to the late Raleigh M. Carter and Bessie M. Carter. She made her transition on August 25, 2012. Lora was raised in Danville, Virginia and New York City where she met and married her late husband, Paul W. Wright. Two daughters, Yolanda and Elizabeth were born to this union. Later, the family moved to Danville, Virginia where Lora joined Holbrook Street Presbyterian Church and taught in the Sunday School. Lora and her family returned to New York City where she continued her education earning a BA from New York University and a MA from Union Theological Seminary. Following graduation, she worked for the New York Presbytery. Not content with prior academic achievements she enrolled in the Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia at the age of 75. Upon completion of the course of studies at Union, she was conferred the title, Reverend Lora Wright. Lora traveled extensively to Europe, South America Africa and Asia. During the summer of 1970 she taught a course in World Wide Religion at the University of Ghana. Following their retirement, Lora and Paul returned to Danville where they reunited with family and friends and were active in church, civic and cultural affairs. Lora served as President of the Library and was a Board member for the YWCA. In 1980, Lora and husband Paul founded the Opera Ebony Guild. Lora was instrumental in bringing outstanding musicians to Danville including Leontyne Price, Wynton Marsalis, the Harlem Boys Choir, the Children's Choir of New York and Peter Kazaras of the New York Metropolitan Opera, among many others. Left to cherish her memories are daughters Yolanda Wright Gross of East Hampton, New York; Elizabeth Wright of New York City; granddaughter, Lora Jackson, also of New York City, and son-in-law, Richard Gross. She is survived by sisters Patsy Carter and Henrietta Carter of Danville and Grace Bethea of California. Also mourning her passing are a host of nieces, nephews, family and special friends. A memorial service is planned for Danville at a date which is yet undetermined.