Rev. Matthew Wright Sr.

Rev. Matthew Wright Sr. DOVER - Rev. Matthew Wright, Sr., was born to the late Willie and Laura Wright on June 27, 1944 in Edison, Ga. He departed this life on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010. Rev. Matthew Wright completed his education at Phyllis Wheatley High School, in Apopka, Fla. He moved to Delaware in the early 60's and worked at Milford Memorial Hospital as an orderly. He always provided for his family by owning and operating his logging & trucking business for over 30 years. In addition, he had a strong desire to serve his country. Therefore, he joined the Army National Guard in 1977, and served faithfully for 26 years before retiring in 2004 as SGT. His assigned unit was the 262nd Maintenance Company, in Dagsboro. In 1999, Rev. Wright began employment with Laidlaw Transit Co. (DART Bus) as a driver in 1999 until his health began to fail in 2008. In his early 20's, Pastor Wright joined the Mt. Enon Baptist Church and served in the following positions: Deacon for 22, years, Sunday School Superintendent for 14 years, Vice-President of the Deacons Department of the Union Baptist Missionary Association of Delaware, Maryland, and Adjoining States and President of the Transportation Committee with the Mt. Enon Baptist Church. On July 28, 1990 Deacon Wright was called by the Lord to preach the gospel and became a licensed minister by Rev. Dr. J. Mack Holt, Pastor of Mt. Enon Baptist Church. On August 13, 2000 Minister Matthew Wright, Sr. was ordained as Reverend Matthew Wright, Sr. by the Union Baptist Missionary Association of Delaware, Maryland and Adjoining States. In 2004, God sent Jacqueline Benson into Reverend Wright's life and they married on September 30, 2004. With this union their vision of starting a ministry became a reality. On April 23, 2006 Reverend and Sis. Wright opened the doors of Truth of Life Church, in Dover, DE. On October 7, 2006 Reverend Wright was installed as Pastor of Truth of Life Church by Bishop James A Bowman, Presiding Bishop of the Great Commission Fellowship of Churches, Buffalo, NY. Pastor Wright always believed that you could come to the Lord, no matter what you had done in your life. Also, that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. As a result of the special calling of God on his life, many souls were saved and lives were changed. He leaves to cherish his precious memories, his loving and devoted wife, Jacqueline Benson-Wright; six children, Matthalina Wright-Benson (Anthony) and Cindy Matt Wright of Houston, Matthew Wright, Jr. (Rosa) of Harrington, Clifford Shelfont Waples (Lena) of Lincoln, Pearlina Waples-Johnson and Timothy Alexis Waples, both of Dover; five brothers, William Wright (Rosa Lee) of Harrington, James Wright (Diane) of Salisbury, Md., Ernest Wright (Roxanne), Henry Wright (LeWanda), both of Buffalo, N.Y., Pasacio Davinci (aka Johnny Wright) of Los Angeles, Calif.; four sisters, Annie Mae Clark (Joseph) of Bridgeville, Eveline Foreman (Patrick) of Ft. Pierce, Fla., Katherine Jones (Charles) and Thelma Davis (Waddell) both of Buffalo, N.Y.; 18 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 15, at Mt. Enon Baptist Church, Church Street, Milford, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Also, a viewing will take place Thursday, Jan. 14, at Mt. Enon Baptist Church, Milford from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment will be at Veterans Cemetery, Millsboro. Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook may be signed at www.benniesmithfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being handled by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.