Verda L. Wright

Verda Lois Smith Wright was born in La Grange, Georgia, to the late Lewis and Anna Smith. When she was three years old, the family migrated to Bayonne, New Jersey. She confessed Christ at the age of nine at the Friendship Baptist Church and was baptized by the late Rev. Watkins. From then on, her work was church. While at Friendship, she sang in the junior choir and served with the junior and senior usher board, the junior missionary circle, and the young women’s league. After the family moved to Jersey City, she attended the Jersey City Public School system and took courses at the Jersey City State College. She also graduated from the New York City Foundling Hospital as a certified child care technician. Verda met and married the late Eddie Wright Jr. From that union, five children were born. Estellé, Verdena Rose, Lewis, Lavon-dé, and the late Ann Lois. Verda joined the Zion Baptist Church in 1963. During her faithful tenure, she worked with the Chapel Choir, the Willing Workers, the Trustee Aides, the Pastor Aides, the Busy Bees, and the Missionary Society. She became a Sunday school teacher and was put in charge of the special programs. A special occasion never passed when she did not have a representation from the children. Verda loved working with the youth and had a natural connection with them. She was later appointed by the late Rev. Dr. Charles T. Epps as Superintendent of the Sunday School and in 2008 transitioned to Superintendent Emeritus. After 27 years of working in the Jersey City Board of Education, Verda retired in 1999. In her later years, Verda found great joy in spending quality time with her growing family. Verda Lois Wright was predeceased by her husband, Eddie Lee Wright Jr.; her siblings, Mozelle Singleton, Anne McIver, John Smith, Major Smith, Horace Smith; and step-sons, Eddie Lee Wright III and John Wright. She leaves to mourn four beloved children: Estellé Wright, Verdena Rose Wright, Lewis Core Wright (Patty), and Lavon-dé Hampton (Robert); a daughter-in-law, Callie Wright; eight grandchildren, VéDora Wright, Lewis Core Wright Jr., Leiana Dawson, Adam Dawson, Soraya Hebron, Caleb Hebron, Ta-Tanisha Wright, and Michael Wright; thirteen great-grandchildren, Taylor, Isaiah, Jackson, Daniel, Corey, Lewis Carter, Kyro, River, Parker, Tatyana, Taryn, Jessmik, and Jayson; and a host of relatives and Christian friends.

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