Billy Jay Wright

1939 - 2022

Courtland - Billy Jay "Bill" Wright, 83, went to be with the Lord on July 5, 2022. Born on April 6, 1939, in Grundy, VA, he was a son of the late Dr. T. G. Wright and Sylvia Wright Raines. He was also predeceased by his stepfather, W. P. Raines and sister, Shirley W. Lester.

Bill was a graduate of Grundy High School, attended the University of Virginia, Milligan College and graduated from Emory and Henry College, with advanced degrees from the College of William and Mary.

He began his teaching career at Stony Creek High School in Sussex County and moved to Courtland where he served as principal of the elementary school and coached at Southampton High School. In 1967 he was appointed principal of Southampton High School, where he remained until retirement in 2005. He was honored as the State High School Principal of the Year by his peers in 2004.

Bill was a long-time member of Courtland United Methodist Church where he taught the adult bible class. He was a founder and first president of Courtland Volunteer Rescue Squad, served on the Courtland Town Council for 21 years and vice-mayor for 20 years. Bill served as president of the Southampton-Sussex Youth Baseball League from inception until 1990. The Courtland Ruritan Club had him as a president or officer for most of his 54 years of membership.

He is survived by his Life Partner, Deborah Roselius; his son, Ricky; daughter, Katherine Coley (Chris) of San Antonio; and four grandchildren, Mason and Madison Wright and Caroline and Matthew Coley. He will be sadly missed by Deborah's children, Leslie Puckett and Robert Puckett, and their children, Eric Applegate, Lola, Lucia, and Sunny Puckett.

A Funeral Service will be held at 2PM Sunday, July 10, 2022, in Courtland United Methodist Church. Burial will follow the service in Riverside Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7PM Saturday in the funeral home and suggests that memorial donations be made to Courtland United Methodist Church. www.wrightfuneralhome.org