Sunday, July 6, 2008

RIP Betty Wright



My prayers go out to the Wright family as they mourn the loss of Betty Wright and their grandson.
I have the full report here frm the daily news:



Brooklyn pastor known as the “godfather of gospel” was critically injured and his wife and grandson killed when a wrong-way driver hit their vehicle in Pennsylvania, police said Saturday.

The Rev. Timothy Wright, 61, was hospitalized after the Friday night crash that killed his wife, Betty, 58, on Interstate 80 in Greene Township, about 160 miles west of Manhattan, state police said.

The couple’s 14-year-old grandson, D.J., died at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville on Saturday evening, a hospital spokeswoman said this morning. She said the pastor remained in critical condition.

The wrong-way driver, John Pick, 44, of Lewisburg, Pa., was also killed in the head-on collision, state police said. Police said they were awaiting a toxicology test to determine whether Pick was driving under the influence of alcohol.

Wright has released more than a dozen gospel recordings and is pastor at Grace Tabernacle Christian Center in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

His album “Come Thou Almighty King” was nominated for best traditional soul gospel album at the 1995 Grammy Awards. His latest CD, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” came out last year.

Grace Tabernacle parishioners gathered at the church’s doorstep Saturday night and placed candles in front of a photograph of the pastor’s wife. Inside, they covered her chair with a shroud.

“I would have to say she was a jewel,” said congregant Phillip Culver. “She was right by her husband’s side and gave so much support to the church.”

While mourning Betty Wright, the parishioners were thankful to learn their pastor had opened his eyes.

“I’m believing in God now,” said Cynthia Boone, 43. “I’m relieved now that everything is okay.”

The Wrights were driving home to Roosevelt, L.I., from a church conference in Detroit, parishioners said. They were married for 37 years and had five sons.

Bishop James Gaylord, a prelate with the Church of God in Christ, said he would visit his friend today in the hospital. He expected the pastor to be hard hit by his wife's death.

"They were like a match made in heaven," Gaylord said. "She will be a tremendous loss to the community as well as to Christendom."

The church plans to hold a special prayer service at 5 p.m. Sunday

Life is short and nobody knows tomorrow so let us praise him while we still can.

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