Mary Morris Wright - CHAPEL HILL, NC -Mary Morris Wright (Mrs. Augustine Thomas Smythe Wright) died July 26, 2007 at Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill, NC. She was born near Bolingbroke, GA on August 10, 1910. She grew up in Columbus, GA and graduated from The University of North Carolina in 1931 with degrees in English and French. After teaching at the Georgia College for Women in Valdosta, GA she married "Billy" Wright at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus, GA, Sept.3, 1934. She lived most of the rest of her life in Savannah, GA and Bluffton, SC. In 1996 when dementia began to take its toll, she reluctantly gave up her daily four mile brisk walks around Bluffton and the May River she loved so much and moved to Chapel Hill to be near her daughter Mary. In spite of having dementia she retained her sweetness, peacefulness and showed appreciation to those around her. The staff of Carolina Meadows treated her with love as if she were their own mother. She was completely healthy up to her peaceful death. Mrs. Wright was a member of The Junior League of Savannah through which she helped start The Speech and Hearing Center. She was a lifelong, active Episcopalian completing the Education for Ministry Course in her eighties. Mrs. Wright was the longest elected member of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Georgia, Savannah Town Committee. She dedicated her life to helping others attain the highest level of education and employment possible. Periodically Mrs. Wright taught at Bluffton High School. She stood firmly on the side of integration and continued to teach at H.E. McCracken High School. After her beloved husband's death in 1966 she earned the university qualifications in Library Science and became the librarian of H.E. McCracken High School. After her retirement she fought for a public library to be built in Bluffton. After losing that battle she and Mrs. Hugh Gordon with many volunteers, collected books, raised money and built a library for Bluffton. Mrs. Wright trained volunteers, catalogued the whole library, and ran the library with volunteers for three years until the Beaufort County Public Library System acknowledged the proof of need and use of the library in Bluffton and took over the library. Bluffton now has a fine public library. She is survived by her children: Hannah Wright Pinckney (Nancy & John), Augustine T.S. Wright (Gus & Jane), Mary Wadleigh Wright Harrison, Julia Wright McIntosh (Julie), thirteen grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Her first grandchild, John Chapman Pinckney, Jr. died in 1978. Mrs. Wright's funeral service will be held in the chapel of the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill where she worshipped as a student. It will be on her 97th birthday- August 10 at 10 am. The burial will follow the next day, Saturday August 11th at the Wright plot A 68 in Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, GA at 10am. Mrs. Wright did not believe in spending money on funeral flowers. She would rather you do something nice for someone living. Memorials may be made to any of the following institutions: Episcopal Church of the Advocate- Land fund, PO Box 9, Carrboro, NC 27510; Bluffton Branch Library- Reference Department, 120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton, SC, 29910; University of North Carolina- Chapel HillGeneral Scholarship Fund, P O Box 309 Chapel Hill, NC 27514-0309 American Cremation Services Durham, NC 919-598-8300 Savannah Morning News August 5, 2007 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at www.savannahnow.com