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Submitted: 8/26/12 • Approved: 8/27/12 • Last Updated: 9/4/12 • R746834-G746833-S3
Photo & Obit from Tributes.co
Grace Leon Bennett Wright at 99 years of age is now in heaven and looking into the face of Jesus. Her Christian lifestyle and caring life will always be remembered by those who were close to her and loved her dearly. She entered heaven on April 21 by just closing her eyes here on earth and awakening to see Jesus and her loved ones that had gone on before her.
Grace was the daughter of James Herman and Rose Lee Turner Bennett. She was born into a country family on December 13, 1910, in Adona, Arkansas, and lived her whole life in Arkansas. Their farm included lots of acreage and a large home with each child having their own bedroom. Some of her favorite memories are going to Sunday school and church and riding her horse Shorty.
When she started to school, it was in a one-room schoolhouse. Looking back over her school years, her favorite subject was Algebra. She also played basketball at Perry Casa with her best friend Ruth Wade and her cousin Cleo Turner. They had a good team and she wore the number one jersey. Grace had no real first job, only working the fields and riding her horse to take the school census. As a child, she had always wanted to be a nurse and she realized part of that dream by being a caregiver for many elderly people.
Her first date was with a young man named Jess Eperson. They were at church in Ada Valley when he asked her if he could walk her to her wagon. They dated for many years and even though they never married each other, they remained lifelong friends.
She had three brothers, Ollen, Ovis and Garland and one sister, Violet who thought so much of her sister that she named her only child Grace after her beloved sister. Grace’s parents, her husband, Raymond Wright, her siblings, three of her children James Dorwood Wright, Bonnie Rose Wright Bird and Bennett Raymond (Benny Ray) Wright, and many of her friends have been in heaven now for many years.
In the nursing homes she made new friendships with the staff, family, visitors and the people who loved her and cared for her which included her great-granddaughter, Meagan Wright Maness, her daughter-in-law, Vida Doughty Wright and her only remaining child, her son, Billy Wayne Wright whom she loved dearly. Each child thought their mother loved them best! She could relate to all ages of people and she loved them all including each roommate that shared her room over the years in the nursing homes and shared her love for the Lord. When she made the decision to go to a nursing home, she made all the arrangements herself as she did not want her children to have to take on this responsibility in caring for her. She was a very self-sufficient, independent lady! She lived her life the way she wanted to live it!
One of the highlights of her life was when she was a resident at Jacksonville Nursing Home, she was crowned Nursing Home Queen in October 1986 by the Arkansas Health Care Association. She then again returned to the competition of the pageant and was crowned State Nursing Home Queen in 1990. This ceremony was held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN. Seven districts were represented and all queens were escorted by military recruiting personnel of Memphis. She was so beautiful in her long red evening gown with matching red high heel shoes! Her hair and make-up were flawless. She felt so honored to be wearing the crown and holding the red roses. She made her whole family beam with pride! Way to go NONA!
Other survivors include two daughters-in-law, Sue Gipson Wright and Joan Raines Wright, one son-in-law, Hank Bird; six grandchildren who lovingly knew her as “NONA”, Jimmy Carroll Wright, Michelle Wright Lawrence, Ray Wright, Steve Bird, Robert Bird, Dorwood Wright, Ricky Wright and Scott Wright; 13 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., April 23, 2010, at Liberty Cemetery in Adona, Arkansas, honoring her life. Bro. Gene Tanner will officiate the service and Joan Wright will reflect on the highlights of her life. Following the service, visitation and lunch will be served at Oppelo First Baptist Church, Oppelo, AR. Pallbearers are special friends of the family and they are: Darrall Doughty, Bob Gipson, Billy Howard Gipson, Buford Gipson, Dr. Ben Hyatt and True Robinson. Thank you Nona for your life and the example you set for the rest of your family. We love you dearly!
The guest register may be signed at www.Grossfuneralhome.com
Contributed on 8/26/12 by hawkinsdonna
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Record #: 746834