Sylvester W. Wright

Sylvester W. Wright, 82, of Fairfield Township, passed away on Thursday evening, May 17, 2012, in South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center, Vineland. He was currently a resident in Cumberland Manor and had been in declining health for the past two years.

Born in Hopewell Township, May 3, 1930, he was the son of the late Orville Wilson and Dora Wright, and the husband of the late Betty Ann (Cuff) Wright.

Sylvester was a mechanic and owned and operated his repair shop for 40 years in Fairfield Township. He started his working career as a teenager, working for Atkinson Lane Farm in Hopewell Twp, near his family home. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a staff sergeant, and was honorably discharged. After his military service, he was hired at the former Cohansey Motors, where he attended Chrysler certification school and was trained and certified to repair automatic transmissions on Chrysler, DeSoto and Plymouth. He also worked for Downer Chrysler Plymouth, and was well versed in not only Chrysler products, but also Ford and Chevrolet.

He loved tinkering with antique cars and was well known for his collection of automobiles and the restorations of such. He also enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles. He was a member of the Cohanzick Region Model A Ford Club, and also had served as an officer with the Fairfield Township Police Department. Sylvester also was a former member of the Fairfield Twp. Planning Board, and a member of Trinity AME Church, Gouldtown. He was friendly, and always willing to help someone out, especially the elderly.

Surviving are his two daughters, Karen Herman and Kimberly Bryant; a special friend, Agnes Green, all of Fairfield Twp.; his four sisters, Lorraine Brown and Bernice Phillips and her husband Lewis, all of Fairfield Twp., and Doris Collins of East Orange and Virginia Collins of Quinton Twp.; his four grandchildren, Duane Herman, Sheldon Bryant and his wife April, Michell'le Bryant and Leana Daniels; his great-grand daughter, Sierra Herman and many, many friends.

Besides his wife Betty, he was predeceased by two brothers, Francis Wright and Jerome Wright.

Family and friends are invited to attend funeral services on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. from Trinity AME Church, Rt. 49, Gouldtown. The Rev. Dr. Michael Keen will officiate. Interment will be in Gouldtown Memorial Park, Fairfield Twp.

Friends may call on Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the church, and again on Thursday morning one hour prior to the services.

Written condolences and expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting the funeral home website at www.sraywebsterfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Sray-Webster Funeral Home, Upper Deerfield Twp.