Special Tribute:
Dr. Wasena F. Wright, Jr.
September 3, 1940 - July 3, 2003

Rev. Wright was a Ferrum alum ('60) and a member of the Board of Trustees from 1985-1993 and again from 1997 until his death. During his latter years as a Board member he also served on the Executive Committee of the Board. He was a recipient in May, 1999 of Ferrum College's highest alumni honor, the Beckham Medallion. Rev. Wright was a former senior pastor of Annandale UMC and most recently served as Council Director for the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. We join the many friends and family of Buddy Wright in grieving his loss but celebrating his life.

A fund has been established at Ferrum College in memory of Dr. Wasena F. (Buddy) Wright, Jr. The Rev. Dr. Wasena F. Wright, Jr. '60 and Mrs. Patricia G. Wright Endowment for Christian Ministries has been established by friends and family as an ongoing scholarship. To contribute to this fund, contact the Development Office at (540) 365-4221 or send your contribution to Ferrum College P.O. Box 1000, Ferrum, VA 24088 (please include a note of designation).

Obituary of Dr. Wasena F. Wright Jr.

Dr. Wasena F. Wright Jr., 62, a minister and leader in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, died of cancer on July 3, 2003 at his home in Beaverdam, Virginia. A native Virginian, Dr. Wright was born in Danville and was educated in the public school of Bassett, Virginia. His undergraduate education was received at Ferrum and Randolph-Macon Colleges. He obtained his Master of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, and his Doctor of Ministry Degree from St. Mary's Seminary and University. He was a recognized scholar in ministry to survivors of suicide and published various articles on this topic both in the United States and internationally. Dr. Wright began his pastoral ministry at the age of 19 and for the next 43 years was a minister in various United Methodist churches throughout Virginia. From 1989 - 2000, he served as Senior Pastor of Annandale United Methodist Church, one of the largest United Methodist Churches in the region with more than 2,100 members. Most recently, he served as the Council Director for the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, the largest annual conference in the denomination comprised of more than 1,100 churches within Virginia. As Council Director, Dr. Wright supervised conference program staff, and during his tenure he was instrumental in the development of a new vision statement for the conference. He also served on numerous other church related boards and agencies at the local, regional and national level. Dr. Wright was known for his involvement in and passion for the field of missions. He served for five years as the Virginia Conference Secretary of Global Ministries. Here in the United States he was involved in numerous Volunteer-in-Mission projects, including work with Native Americans in Oklahoma and Virginia and hurricane disaster relief work in the Southeast. He was involved in various mission projects overseas as well, including projects in Liberia and work with Palestinian Christians in Israel. He served as a member of the faculty of the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies and was active in the field of biblical archaeology, leading excavation teams to Bethsaida in Galilee. Dr. Wright received a number of honors, including the Beckham Medallion from Ferrum College, the highest award given by the school for outstanding leadership and service. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation, and was an adopted member of the Ponca Indian Tribe of Oklahoma. In 2002, he was honored as the "Citizen of the Year" by the Annandale Chamber of Commerce, recognizing his outstanding community leadership and service. Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Patricia Greer Wright of Beaverdam, Virginia; a daughter, Dawne Vronek of Ashland, Virginia; a son, Stephen of Glen Allen, Virginia; a brother and a sister; plus four grandchildren, Matthew Vronek, Rachael Vronek, Christopher Wright and Emily Wright. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Bliley Funeral Homes’ Staples Mill Chapel, 8510 Staples Mill Rd. A private interment will be held in Annandale United Methodist Church Cemetery. Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, July 7, at the Annandale United Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Va., and 1 p.m. Tuesday at the St. Peter United Methodist Church, Route 33, Montpelier, Va. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any contributions be made to Ferrum College for the Wasena F. Wright Jr. and Patricia G. Wright Endowed Scholarship for Christian Ministries.

Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on 7/6/2003.

Links:
Ferrum College
Randolph-Macon College
Annandale United Methodist Church
Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church