Harold L. "Sandy" Bright

FORMER IHS COACH "SANDY" BRIGHT SUCCUMBS
Harold L. "Sandy" Bright, 81, of Myrtle Beach, SC, formerly of Welch and Iaeger, WV, passed away peacefully on Sept. 10, 2024 at his home following a long illness. He was the son of the late Ernest Bright and Jane Romans Bright. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Pat Bright Steele and his beloved mother- and father-in-law, Joan and FW Turner.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Elinor Turner Bright; his daughter, Natalie Bright Ayscue (Scott) of Raleigh, NC and his son, Eric L Bright (Sunday) of Myrtle Beach, SC'; his grandsons, Jordan Ayscue of Houston, TX and Logan Ayscue of Raleigh, NC; granddaughters Lillianna Bright and Willow Bright of Myrtle Beach, SC; great-grandsons Kole and Onyx Ayscue of Houston, TX. "Bonus grandchildren" Kristen Murray and sons Landon & Carson, and Tyler Wright & daughter Scarlett; all of Bunn, NC. Sisters-in-laws: Claire Turner Lampert (Terry) of Bluefield, WV and Diane Turner Clemins (late husband Orving) of Charlotte Court House, VA.; Brother-in-law Richard W. Turner (Nancy) of Tallahassee, FL., several nieces and nephews and a myriad of lifelong friends that he considered to be his brothers.
"Sandy" was a star football player at Welch High School, graduating in 1962. He joined the UNITED STATES AIR FORCE in 1962 through 1966, serving in Viet Nam for 6 months. He graduated from Bluefield State College in 1971, and began teaching at Iaeger Junior High School through 1974, then transferring to Iaeger High School where he started the first Wrestling team. He was extremely successful over the next 21 years. He coached the first State Champion in any sport at IHS in 1994. He was also assistant football coach and baseball coach during his tenure and started the first Golf team at the school. He was Coalfield Conference Coach of the Year in 1994 and was inducted into the McDowell County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
He was a beloved husband, dad, grandfather, and friend and was respected by the hundreds of students and athletes at IHS to this day.
He was an avid deer hunter, fisherman and golfer before his illness and will be loved and missed forever.
He learned from his father-in-law: "MEASURE TWICE--CUT ONCE".....A lesson he passed on to his son and grandsons.
Memorial Service on Saturday, September 28 at the former Iaeger United Methodist Church in Iaeger at 3:00 pm. Burial will be on October 12 in Charlotte Court House, VA at the White Family Cemetery at 2:00 pm.
Per his request, he has been cremated. The family wishes to thank Heartland Hospice Care of Myrtle Beach, SC. Goldfinch Funeral Home of Murrells Inlet, SC served the Bright family.