Sarah Elizabeth Johnson Wright

1922 - 2022

WRIGHT, Sarah Elizabeth Johnson, passed away peacefully in Virginia Beach on May 25, 2022. She was the dearly loved wife for 64 years of the Rev. Dr. William Archer Wright Jr., who predeceased her in 2010; and the much-loved mother of Elizabeth Wright Taylor (Walter) of Virginia Beach, Ann Wright Dye (Roy) of Stanardsville, John William Magee Johnson (Chris) of Austin, Texas, and William Archer Wright III (Laura Jane) of Chesapeake. In addition to her children, she was Grammy to 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Beth was born in Franklin, Virginia, on December 11, 1922, to John William Johnson and Lemma Garrett Johnson. She graduated from Farmville State Teachers College, now known as Longwood University. Her areas of study were music, home economics, biology and English. A beautiful brunette, she was once mistaken for Queen Soraya of Iran at a diplomatic ball in New York.

Beth was a strong, smart and talented woman, devoted to her family and her faith. She was a professional educator and taught in many schools, following the path of her grandmother and mother as teachers. Beth loved music, directing church choirs and performing as a contralto soloist. She partnered with her husband throughout his ministry to United Methodist congregations across Virginia. An avid world traveler, she instilled in her family a keen sense of curiosity about other peoples, cultures and art.

A celebration of her life will be held at Reveille United Methodist Church, Richmond, Virginia on Monday, June 6 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to soundscapes.org, a nonprofit that provides music education and performance opportunities to students on the Virginia Peninsula from first grade through age 25. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com.