The Rev. Dr. John L. Wright, long time pastor of the First Baptist Church of Guilford, died late Jan 28.
At the helm of the church for nearly 40 years, Rev. Wright’s service was not limited to his congregation. He had also served as the head of the United Baptist Missionary Convention of Maryland, the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Baltimore and the head of the Howard County NAACP.
Reflections by Heber Brown III on the Faith In Action website referenced the inspirational advertisements Rev. Wright prepared for publication in the AFRO American Newspapers. He called the added messages provocative and provoking. “For him,” Brown wrote, “it wasn’t just about trying to get people to visit his church. For him, it was about trying to get people to think. And then based on their thinking — to act.”
According to a spokesperson from the Estep Brothers Funeral Service, information regarding arrangements is not yet available.
Rev. Wright is survived by his wife, Ida Mitchell Wright and daughter, Dr. Sheila Wright.
The viewing for Rev. Wright will be Feb 4, 6-8 p.m. at New Union Baptist Church, 510 N. Monroe Street, where the Rev. Charles Savage. Funeral services will be held Feb. 5 11 a.m., viewing 9-10 a.m., family hour, 10 to 11 a.m. at St. John Baptist Church, 9055 Tamar Drive (at Little Patuxent Parkway Rte. 175) Columbia, Md.