Wayne Leonard Wright, 74, of Columbia, died on October 5, 2023. Born in Greenville, SC, on December 20, 1948, he was a son of the late Samuel Leonard Wright and Celesta Tatum Bogert. The majority of his life was spent in the Northen Virginia area where his parents settled when he was young. Mr. Wright was a graduate of Groveton High School in Virginia.

After graduation, he enlisted in the US Army and began his basic training at Fort Benning before deploying out of Fort Gordon to Vietnam. Following his service in the Army, he returned to Virginia where he worked for C&P Phone Company that later became Verizon. In his spare time as a young man, he enjoyed being outside, caving and backpacking. He was a member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church for nearly six decades and served there as a deacon and sound engineer. It was at Capitol Hill where he met his wife, Dixie. His life revolved around faithfully serving his Savior and Lord by stewarding what had been entrusted to him and pointing his family towards Christ. He deeply loved the Psalms and Handel's Messiah.

Survivors include his sons, Caleb Wright (Ashley), Nathanael Wright, Zachary Wright (Elizabeth), Joseph Wright; grandchildren, Gabrielle Wright, Joshua Wright, Josiah Wright; and siblings, Glenda Geoghegan (Bill) and Andrew Wright. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by Dixie Wright, his wife of 44 years; and his brother, Philip Wright.

The service for Mr. Wright will be held at 10:00 am October 16th, in Smith Chapel at First Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends following the service at the church in the atrium of Jackson Hall. Burial will be 2:00pm at Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

Memorials may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators.