Dorothy Laverne Wright

Ms. Dorothy Laverne Wright was born on October 5, 1948, to her parents, Benjamin and Margaret Wright, in the Bronx, NY. The youngest of four children, she was raised on Union Avenue and graduated from Evander Childs High School in 1963. As an adult, she began working for Consolidated Edison at the age of twenty and continued to work there for more than thirty years. During her early years there, she took classes at Hostos Community College.  A champion for workers’ rights, she served as the president of the Consolidated Fraternal Employees of Con Ed for a time.

She loved to travel and read, but she especially loved to sing.  Sister Wright moved to the Parkchester area in 1979 and, at one point, served as the president of Bronx Community Board 9,  representing several communities all the way to the Bronx River.  She lived in Parkchester until 2004. Due to her many summers spent in Virginia as a child, she chose Williamsburg as her landing spot, and remained here the rest of her life.

Dorothy has been involved with the church since the age of eight. After moving into the Parkchester area, she attended church services at Parkchester Baptist Church until officially becoming a member in 1992. Upon relocating to Virginia, she joined the Church of Christ on Merrimac Trail and soon found her way to the historic First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, where she served in the Missionary Ministry, eventually becoming Chairperson of the Ministry. The call of service soon brought her to St. John Baptist Church of Williamsburg, where she continued her missionary work and even served as a volunteer for the Hospitality Committee. Among her church members, she is known as the “card lady,” as she would never hesitate to send out greeting cards for all occasions. She rarely missed birthdays and would not hesitate to send out birthday cards, sympathy cards, get-well cards, and even Thinking of You cards. Sister Wright would also visit nursing homes on occasion to give cheer and comfort to the residents.

She is well-loved and respected throughout her community, always having a kind word for a stranger or a small piece of fruit or candy for young children. Because of this, the neighborhood kids liked to call her Grandma. She loved to take care of people and animals; she has adopted several dogs in recent years. Sister Wright was also a frequent contributor to the local firemen and police unions.

Because of her love for singing, Sister Wright continually joined choirs at every church she went to, as well as volunteered to sing hymns at local nursing homes. Sister Wright could also be heard singing to the Lord at home.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Lionel Wright, sister, Bernice Buford, and nephews, Derrick Wright and Darryll Buford. Sister Wright is survived by those who love her and miss her terribly, her son, Andru Wright; goddaughter, Audra Disla; brother, Bernard Wright; nieces, Tobie Buford, Kelli Buford, Jamice Crawford, Angela Buford, Marjorie Buford, and Tawanna Wright; nephews, Shaun Buford, James Buford, and Bernard “Bernie” Wright. Jr.; grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Alexander Buford, Emma Buford, Jayson Buford, Jordan Buford, Marcus Buford, Amber Buford, Olivia Buford, Jackson Buford, Sydney Buford, and Alyssa Buford; her extended families, the Hunter Family of Williamsburg, Virginia and the Adkins Family of Charles City, Virginia; and a host of other loving relatives and friends. Her loss will be felt, but we endeavor to follow her example of service to the Lord our God.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 24, 2022, in Whiting's Funeral Home, with Reverend Carlon Lassiter officiating.  Livestream will be available at the beginning of the service.  Ms. Wright may be viewed from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.  Facial coverings are required for all services.

Professional services are entrusted to the staff of Whiting's Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com

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