WILMINGTON — John Laurens Wright, Jr. (“Laurens”), was born December 9, 1932, in Wilmington, N.C.
He was the son of the late John Laurens Wright, Sr., and Jane MacMillan Wright.
Laurens is survived by his wife Allene Keith Wright, his son John Laurens Wright, III and his wife Lucy, his daughter Elizabeth Wright Mayo and her husband Spencer, son William G. Wright, Sr. and his wife Missy, grandchildren, Henry Mayo, Grainger Wright, Joshua Wright, Lauren Wright, and Sarah Wright, his sister Jane Wright, his sister Helen Redwine and her husband Craig, and 9 nieces and nephews.
Laurens was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Elizabeth “Betsy” Burney Wright, his brother Henry MacMillan Wright, and his grandson Spencer Mayo.
Laurens attended Eastover Elementary and Country Day School in Charlotte, NC. He attended the Darlington School in Rome, GA, where he was awarded the Sportsman Award while running track and playing football. Finally, Laurens attended his beloved University of North Caroline in Chapel Hill where he was a brother of the SAE fraternity with his brother and best friend Henry. There truly was never a bigger Tar Heels fan than Laurens.
Having grown up at Wrightsville Beach, Laurens was a true waterman. He was an avid angler, a world-class body surfer, a licensed captain, and a genuine lover of the ocean.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed as part of an artillery support team at RAF base Brize Norton in England. Upon his return to the States, Laurens and Henry owned an egg farm at Edgewater on Airlie Road, Laurens then worked for Pilot Life Insurance Co., and finally he worked at Hercules/Herca-fina/Cape Industries before retiring in 1994.
Laurens was a wonderful father, grandfather (lovingly referred to as “Da” by his grandchildren), brother, uncle, and friend. Laurens never met a stranger, and he loved spending time with friends and family. His kind and gentle nature and easy laugh will be missed by everyone who knew him.
The family would like to thank the caregivers at the Commons at Brightmore, the nurses and staff with Liberty Hospice, and his sitters for their loving care of Laurens during his last illness.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Cameron Art Museum, which was greatly enjoyed by Laurens and Allene, or a charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday February 2, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., with visiting an hour prior, at the Andrew Mortuary Market Chapel, 1617 Market Street, Wilmington, N.C.
