Ophelia J. Wright

PFAFFTOWN - Mrs. Ophelia J. Wright, 93, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004, at her home with her nephew, James D. Mather II and wife, Shirley. Mrs. Wright was born Jan. 15, 1911, in Fernandina Beach, Fla., to Theodore and Lizzie Johnson. Mrs. Wright was a Jehovah's Witness, having been baptized more than 30 years ago. Before moving to North Carolina in February of this year, Mrs. Wright had lived in Manatee County on the West Coast of Florida since 1936. She was a pioneer in improving health care for blacks in Manatee County, arriving as a registered nurse and licensed midwife after graduating from Brewster Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. She was recruited for Bradenton by the nursing director who had overseen her training to run the small annex that Manatee County Hospital operated for black patients. Other young nurses had accepted the task, but fled almost immediately. It was a time when segregation was the rule and medical services for African-Americans were scarce. She was asked to stay for at least three months. For the next three decades, she not only remained in the county, but helped shape the way that health care was delivered to its black community, both at the hospital and as a public-health nurse. As a midwife, she delivered more than 500 babies before retiring in 1965. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of more than 50 years, George S. Wright; two brothers, James Johnson and Theodore Johnson Jr.; two sisters, Theodosia Stays and Sara Charlton. Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Gussie Dove of Lompoc, Calif.; five nephews, James Mather of North Carolina, James Stays of Maryland, Horace Dove Jr. of Louisiana, Donald Dove of California and Theodore Johnson III of Miami; eight nieces, Ophelia Dove of California, Dorothy Davis of California, Maggie Hazel of New York, Sheryl Agarrat of Miami, Lenora Brown of Atlanta, Paulette Johnson of Miami, Olive Johnson of Tennessee, Kay Johnson of the Bahamas; and a host of grand nieces, grand nephews, and other relatives and friends. Arrangements are pending for services in Fernandina Beach, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 11. (Russell)