John Larry Wright

John Wright, 80, passed away peacefully at his home in Lake City, Arkansas on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 surrounded by his family.  John was born in 1941 in Water Valley, Mississippi and retired from the Illinois Central Railroad as a machinist and mechanical officer.

John spent all of his adult life in the Memphis, Tennessee and DeSoto County, Mississippi areas where he was active in many political, civic, and community organizations.  He served on the Executive Committee of the DeSoto County Republican Party and was a graduate of the Southaven Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy serving in their Volunteers in Policing (VIP) Organization.  John was an Ambassador for the Southaven and Horn Lake Mississippi Chambers of Commerce respectively, and served as Chaplin of the Hugh Dancy American Legion Post 134.  He served as Commissioner of the Southaven Mississippi Area Christian Recreational Association and served on the Leadership Committee of the DeSoto County Christian Coalition.  John was a member of the DeSoto County Economic Development Council serving as Chairman of their Governmental Affairs Task Force.  He was also a member of the DeSoto Optimist Club and served as President of the Horn Lake Mississippi Chapter of the American Cancer Society.  John was currently a member of First Baptist Church, Lake City.

John also honorably served in the Mississippi Army National Guard.  He was a member of the Howitzer Battery 2 ^nd Reconnaissance Squadron 108 ^th Armored Calvary Unit in Water Valley, Mississippi.

Charles Arnold III, Harold Barker, Bob Gross, Kenneth Hodge, Ron Nunnally, Bryan Shaver, and Donnie Wiltshire will serve as pallbearers.
No visitation is scheduled.  Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. on  Friday at First  Baptist Church in Lake City with Rick Davis, Bobby Scott, and Jonathan Wright officiating.  Interment will be at the Lake City Memorial Cemetery following the services,  Arrangements will be under the direction of Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro.

John is survived by his wife of 33 years, Margaret Smith Wright, one son; Jonathan Wright (Sharon) of Franklin, Tennessee, and one daughter, Michelle Davis (Rick) of Lake City, Arkansas.  He also leaves behind five grandchildren and two great grandchildren as well as a host of other family and friends.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Weston and Irene Wright, and brothers; Gearrell, Danny, and Dean Wright.

Special thanks are extended to Ms. Sherrie Ellis and St. Bernards Home Hospice Healthcare for the excellent care provided to John during his illness.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be sent to First Baptist Church Lake City, 700 Fourth Street, Lake City, Arkansas  72437.