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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Billy Gene

Billy Gene Wright Profile Photo

Wright

December 10, 1938 – May 14, 2023

Obituary

Billy Gene Wright passed away Sunday, May 14, at the age of 84.
Billy Gene was born to Albert Sidney and Mary Drusilla Wright on December 10, 1938, in Vicksburg, MS. Aside from the time he spent in the Navy, he was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg. He graduated from Jett High School in 1957 and married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Jones, in 1958. They began their life together stationed in San Diego with the US Navy before settling in Yokena, MS to raise their four children. Billy was a member of Grace Baptist Church.
Billy Gene served in the National Guard from 1956 - 1957 before joining the Navy in 1957. He traveled to San Diego for boot camp and was deployed for two years on the USS Floyd B Parks out of San Diego. He transferred to Norfolk, VA where he served on the USS Albemarle followed by the USS Intrepid. Billy Gene remained in the Navy until 1961 and served two more years in the Naval Reserve.
He grew up loving the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He played basketball and football at Jett. After school, he stayed active playing softball, coaching little league, riding horses, taking his family water skiing and attending his children's events. Billy Gene was a wonderful father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and son. His house was always open to friends and family. Over the years, he taught many people to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors. He worked most of his life for and retired from Vicksburg Chemical Company. After retirement, he and Brenda enjoyed traveling the country together and with friends. They attended several USS Floyd B. Parks reunions, going everywhere from New York to California and in between.
Billy Gene played the guitar all his life. He was self-taught and played by ear. After playing with other bands, he and Brenda formed the Wright Road Band. They played at church, nursing homes and Levi's Gathering Place. When they were not playing, they enjoyed their weekends at Levi's listening to the music and dancing. Tuesdays became "pickin" night at their home in Yokena. One of their favorite spots to visit was Mountain View, AR where they would sit on the square and listen to music several times a year. They had the privilege of playing there once.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Brenda Jones Wright; his parents: Albert Sidney and Mary Drusilla Wright; two sisters: Lorene McRaney (Billy) and Margie Wright (Claude); and three brothers: Albert Sidney Wright Jr., Everett Wright, and J.W. Wright, all of Vicksburg.
He is survived by two sons: Andy Wright of Vicksburg and Danny Wright of Baton Rouge; two daughters: Kim East (Larry) of Vicksburg and Candi Freitag (Rob) of Tupelo; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and four sisters: Helen Luckett, Emma Gossen, Lilly Biedenharn (Warner) and Beverly Biedenharn (Herman).
Pallbearers will be Trey East, Timothy Wright, Parker Freitag, Luke Wright, Presley Freitag, Dustin Whitlock and Tyler Hollowell.
Honorary pallbearers are Claude Wright, Jr., Alvin Beard, Jr., Jerry Luckett, Tim Wright, Bill Wright, Bruce Goodwin, Rusty Goodwin, Charlie Wilson, Garvin Sherard, Pete Hearn, Billy Parker, KB Brown and John Mamby,
The family would like to express our deepest appreciation to the Grace Baptist Church WMU, Pastor Tony Monk, and Bonny East.
Visitation will be held at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home on Indiana Avenue on Friday, May 19 from 5-7 pm. Services will be held on Saturday, May 20 at 11 am with a visitation at 10 am. Interment will be at Yokena Cemetery following the service.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Billy Gene Wright, please visit our flower store.

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