Mr. James D. Wright, Jr.

James Daniel Wright, Jr. was Born November 14th, 1930 in Kingsport, Tennessee. He left this earth June 13th, 2019. He leaves behind his wife, Mary, four sons, James and his spouse Andria, Michael and his spouse Jessica, Philip and his spouse Shaun, and Scott and his spouse Dee, 15 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two older sisters Clara and Margaret, who both died in their thirties. While most called him Jim, those who knew him throughout his life called him Buddy. Buddy was the third child of his father James Daniel and Maudine (Payton) Wright, and the oldest brother of several half brothers and sisters in three different states. Although born in Tennessee, he spent most of his childhood in Hogansville, Georgia. His mother died when he was three, and his father abandoned he and his sisters immediately thereafter and left them to be raised with his paternal grandparents. He loved his grandparents, sisters, aunts, uncles and the few cousins he met over the years and developed a lifelong relationship with his first cousin Pete Pike, who became like a brother to him. At the of age of sixteen his grandfather told him that they could no longer support him, so, on October 14th, 1947 he enlisted in the US Marine Corp., by moving his birth year back one year to meet the age requirement of 18 when joining the military. He served in Guam and left the Marine Corp with the weapons qualification as Rifle Marksman. After his honorable discharge he went back home and discovered several of his half siblings who were living with a second wife of his father, in South Carolina. He became the big brother of these children and gave two of them nicknames that each still use today, Butch and Pedro, and he loved his new little sister Linda. Each of these siblings maintained a close relationship with him for the rest of his life. During the next three years he developed relationships with his mother’s family, the Payton’s and was welcomed in as Buddy Wright. With the outbreak of the Korean war and his unyielding patriotism, on November 1st, 1951 he enlisted in the US Navy. He became a boat cocci that delivered men onto the shore. He never spoke much about the hardships of war or the loss of friends, but recognized the hand of God in keeping him safe and returning him home, including the time when he was bumped from a plane at the last minute to make room for an officer, and the plane was shot down at sea. While on shore leave in San Francisco in 1953 he drove to Oroville, California with a friend. While driving down a country road he noticed two skinny legs standing on a ladder on a fig tree. He stopped the car and watched until the little 15-year-old brunette beauty climbed down the ladder. When their eyes made contact, he declared, “You’re the girl I’m going to marry.” She quickly gathered her things and ran home. Later that night he discovered she was the babysitter for the children of his friend. They were married two years later on June 16th, 1955. Over the next few years they brought their four sons into the world. Their life together took them from California to Georgia and back, several times. James spent most of his professional career as an engineer constantly inventing things, most of which someone else took credit for, and often made lots and lots of money. Only a few know he invented the first Weed Eater, Lawn Edger and In-Home Vacuum system, products that are sold all over the world. He learned the hard lesson of the importance of getting a patent on an item before entering it in a State Fair or sharing it with a “friend.” Like each of us, he was not perfect, and had his share of weakness, but Buddy was hardworking, loving and strived to be an honest man, whose life proved that anyone can rise above the challenges of a terrible childhood, the loss of a mother, friends and family members. Although he never became a wealthy man or famous individual, he was blessed with a devoted wife and a great posterity and leaves this earth with a legacy that will live on for eternity. Buddy, you’ll surely be missed, but never forgotten.