James T. "Jim" Wright Jr.

1930 - 2024

James "Jim" T. Wright Jr.

June 28, 1930 - February 2, 2024

Rock Hill, South Carolina - James (Jim) T. Wright Jr. was born at home on June, 28, 1930, to James T. Wright Sr. and Carrie A. Wright, in York County, South Carolina, the first boy in a family of girls. His aunt proudly proclaimed from the front porch, "That's the ugliest baby … BOY … I ever seen in my life!"

He passed away on February 2, 2024 in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The family moved to Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1940, to a small house on W. White Street, and his father went to work at the Bleachery. Jim grew up loving to hunt, play Tarzan, and playing football. He became a Christian at age nine and was baptized at age twelve at White Street Baptist Church. At age fourteen, he got his driver's license.

He attended Rock Hill High School and was a member of the Air Force part of the ROTC and part of the Civil Air Patrol, where he found a love of machines, electronics, and especially airplanes. His favorite school activity was playing football, right guard, and his jersey number was 72.

Jim graduated at age 17, after 11th grade, which was normal back then. When the school system went to graduation at 12th grade, Jim returned to high school by choice-so he could continue to play football. During his years playing with the Bearcats, the team won the state championship two years in a row, and played in the Carolina Bowl. He may be the only person to have graduated from Rock Hill High School twice.

At age 19, Jim fell in love with Earline Mixon and they married, raising his family of three girls: Linda Wright Ackerman (Steve Ackerman), Katherine Wright (Kathy Woodin), Cynthia Wright Marshall (Steve Marshall). Jim worked for Celanese in Rock Hill for thirty years, first in the powerhouse, then in maintenance and scheduling, then in engineering. During all that time, he took correspondence courses and later also classes at York Tech. The family attended White Street Baptist and then Oakland Baptist Church all his life. He taught Sunday School and was chairman of the deacons.

When Jim retired at age fifty, after thirty years with Celanese, he started a second set of careers as a general contractor, designing and drawing house plans, and he obtained his realtor license. He also managed Marshall Tire Company for thirty years.

Several years after Earline passed away, Jim and Joyce Prater were at an Oakland Baptist Church choir retreat, where they spent time together with church friends. They married in 1998. They were an active couple: they worked at their own businesses, traveled to exotic places, learned to ballroom dance and danced all the time, loved their church and were active in Sunday School, choir, and missions.

Jim returned to the love he had abandoned in high school and he learned to fly single engine planes. He also got his concealed carry, learned to scuba dive, and stayed energetic and active until age ninety. Jim's love of mission work led him to be deeply involved with Rolling in Rock Hill, Habitat for Humanity, and helping to repair and build houses in disadvantaged areas of the South. He became known all over Rock Hill as the person to call if someone needed a handicap ramp built. In the capacity of helper and builder, he helped an Eagle Scout with an important milestone.

James T. Wright Jr., joined the Masonic Lodge and was a proud, lifelong member (66 years), becoming a 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Within the Scottish Rites and also through the Elks Club, he was deeply involved with philanthropic pursuits.

James T. Wright Jr. is survived by his wife Joyce, his three children and their spouses, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and a large step-family.

The visitation and funeral will be held at Oakland Batist Church on Oakland Ave. on Tuesday, February 6. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. and the funeral will be at 2 p.m. Graveside services will follow at Grandview Memorial Cemetery on South Cherry Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oakland Baptist Church for local mission work for homeless or disadvantaged families.