Mother Ruth Marie Wright

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) God, in His infinite wisdom, destined that Mother Ruth Marie Weeden Wright's time to be born was December 14, 1937 in Tunica, Mississippi. She was born to the proud parents Elder Willie and Missionary Buna J. Weeden. Ruthie, as she was affectionately called by her family, was welcomed by her parents and older siblings as the sixth child of eight children. The Weeden family was full of love and togetherness, and it is where Ruth learned what was most important in life: the ways of true sanctification and holiness. Church attendance was mandatory for the Weeden children, and Ruth, along with her other siblings and family members, was rooted and grounded in holiness at Antioch Church of God in Christ in Tunica, under the pastorate of Superintendent O.S. Sheard and her father, who was the Assistant and Bishop B.S. Lyles, Overseer. Ruth and her entire family moved from Tunica to St. Louis, Missouri in December 1955. At that time, they united with 23rd and Delmar Temple (later changed to Bostick Temple), under the leadership of the late Bishop Daniel ("Dad") Bostick. She sang with the Delmar Juniors under Mother Beatrice Antoine. During the 1957 January Revival conducted by Elders James Wright and James Jefferson, Ruth was saved, sanctified and filled with God's precious gift of the Holy Ghost. Mother Wright attended schools in both Mississippi and Missouri. She graduated as Salutatorian in the January 1957 Class of Vashon High School in St. Louis, Missouri. She was employed with the U.S. Government, starting as a GS-2 and rising to a GS-12 Computer Specialist. She retired from the U.S. Records Center after over 30 years of government service. Ruth Weeden was married to Charles Wesley McElroy in 1959 and three handsome sons were born to this union, Bruce Anthony and Brian Andrew, a set of twins, and Charles Wesley McElroy II. Charles Wesley McElroy, Sr. preceded her in death. In 1970, Mother Wright was joined in holy matrimony with Superintendent James L. Wright and together they parented James Jr., Anthony, Gwendolyn, Kenneth and Fredrick Wright. As a faithful wife and woman of God, Ruth was a diligent helper to her husband, Supt. Wright, as he served as Pastor and Founder of the Walnut Park Church of God in Christ until his death in 1998. Since that time, she has continued work untiringly in the ministry under the leadership of her youngest son, Elder Charles W. McElroy II. Mother Wright was elevated to Assistant Jurisdictional Supervisor of Eastern Missouri First Jurisdiction Department of Women at the Church of God in Christ 97th Annual Holy Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee in 2004. She worked diligently under Mother Theresa Bolden, Jurisdictional Supervisor and Bishop Robert J. Ward, Jurisdictional Bishop of Eastern Missouri First Jurisdiction, until her illness. Mother Ruth m. Wright's time and season ended on Good Friday, April 10, 2009 at 3:16 P.M. at Life Care Center in Bridgeton, Missouri where she was comforted by her three devoted sons and her brothers until the very end. She leaves to cherish her memory three loving and devoted sons, Bruce, Brian and Elder Chares (Barbara) McElroy III. Four other children, James Jr., Gwendolyn (Larry) Lovings, Elder Kenneth (Lolita) and Fredrick Wright, Elder Anthony (Larita) Wright preceded her in death. Three brothers: Louis C. (Ethel) Jones, Tommie L. (Barbara) and Eulis C. (Vivian) Weeden and two sisters: Lula B. Burroughs of Birmingham, Alabama and Buna Jean (Superintendent Larry D.) Williams of Pontiac, Michigan and an "adopted" sister, Ora Watkins-Jones of Detroit, Michigan; two aunts, Alice and Geneva Fulton, both of Detroit, Michigan, 8 nieces, 6 nephews, 6 great-nieces, 4 great –nephews, "special" cousins, a host of other relatives, many, many dear friends and loved ones will all cling to the memory of our dear and precious "Ruthie". And I heard a voice from heaven saying onto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them (Revelation 14:13). To send a lasting tribute or condolences to the Wright family, please sign the Online Guestbook below. Click "Sign Guestbook".