Barbara Decoyise Wright

Barbara Decoyise Merricks Wright passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children and grandchildren at Thomas Jefferson Hospital on September 16, 2025.

She is predeceased by her parents Louis and Grace Merricks, her beloved husband James E. Wright Sr. She also mourned the loss of her brothers Clarence Merricks, Fredrick Merricks and her sister Patricia V. Gray.

She has left to cherish loving memories and good times, Her aunt Ruth Wynn of NJ. Her sisters Yvonne B. King of Phila PA, Angela Vample (Tony) of Queens, NY and her brother Michael Merricks of Harlem, NY

Her children:

Anthony D. Wright Sr. (Valerie) of Newport, DE

Kevin L. Wright Sr. (Gianna) of Newark, DE

James E. Wright Jr. of Chester, PA

Jennifer G. Wright-Buckley (Dennis) of Chester, PA

George L. Wright of Chester, PA

Monica M. Wright of Chester, PA

Justin D. Wright of Chester, PA

She also lovingly embraced her late husband's sons Thomas Hardy of Virginia Beach, VA and Stephan Powell (Sheneka) of Dover, DE

She also has left in her legacy 11 grandchildren & 7 great grandchildren that she adored. Nieces' nephews and cousins that she loved to spend time with and a host of amazing friends that have stories of times with her, that they can still laugh about.

Barbara, affectionately known as "Coyise" by her maternal side of the family was born September 12,1948 in Suffolk VA. She went to VA public schools and moved to New York in 1965. She gave her life to the lord at an early age and remained faithful throughout her life.

She met James Wright and married soon after. Five of their children were born there.

Barbara was a hard-working woman. While living in New York she worked for the telephone company, Sloan Kettering Hospital and a few other places while being a faithful wife and raising a growing family.

She moved to Wilmington, Delaware with her family in 1980. She soon started furthering her education at Delaware Technical Career School and didn't stop there. While in Delaware she worked in the banking industry, and it was a fulfilling career.

She stepped out on faith and relocated to Chester PA in 1989 and started working at DCIU head start as a case manager. She fell in love with so many families offering them the assistance that they needed while still going back to schools such as IUP, PIT and the University of Maryland to further her career and education. This is where she would retire from in 2008, gaining lifelong friends in her coworkers and children that are now adults still showering her with love and respectfully calling her "Mom Barb" and "Miss Barb". In fact, most of her children's friends refer to her as mom as well because of her nurturing spirit and she was mommom to more people that can be counted.

One thing for sure is that Barbara loved her family and would do anything for them.

She loved to fish and fry it, used to roller skate and play tennis when she was younger, and could bowl like some of the pros. Music and dancing with her family at backyard barbeques and family events were the best times for her and she enjoyed cooking for all of them. She is and will be forever in the hearts of her children and the lives that she has touched.