Lillian "Ruth" Wright

Lillian “Ruth” Wright, our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2015 at the Community Hospice Care Center on Ramona Blvd. in Jacksonville, Florida. She was the only child of Guy S. Stephenson and Lillian L. Stephenson. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 53 years, Charles “Chuck” Wright and her half-brother and sisters: Augustus O'quinn Breare, Helen Fredgant and Juanita Cooper.

She was very proud of all of her five children, Jackie Host (Frank), Emma LaFrance (Gary), Albert Wright (Janice), James Wright (Sally) and Glenn Wright (Kathy). She was also very proud of her 17 grandchildren: (Jackie) Angela St. Pierre (David) & Jessica Host; (Emma) Denise LaFrance, Pamela Marin (Juan) and Benjamin LaFrance (April); (Albert) Jessica Watson and A.J. Wright; (James) Jay Wright, Ginger Perez (Juan), Mark Wright, Richard Dubay, Michael Dubay, David Dubay and Theresa Young; (Glenn) Leslie and Patricia Bell.

She was blessed with 19 great-grandchildren: (Angela) Jean-Luc and Armand St. Pierre; (Pamela) Mia and Nathan Marin; (Benjamin) Autumn LaFrance; (Jay) Noah and Lily Wright; (Ginger) Monica, Juan and Giovanni Perez, (Richard) Richard Jr and Jon Paul Dubay, (Benjamin) Benjamin Jr, Makayla Dubay, (David) Darrion, Gabriel and Aleczander Dubay.(Patricia) Brianna Spears and Shianne Bell.

Ruth came from humble beginnings. Her home was burned down when she was just an infant and was saved by her mother who jumped out of the upstairs bedroom window with her tightly in her arms. Her father died because he ran back into the blazing house trying to save her. Guy, her father, thought the mother yelled, “Get the baby,” and that is why he ran back into the house. In fact, she had yelled, “I've got the baby”. This was during the Great Depression (1929-1939). When people in the Baldwin-MacClenny area heard about the tragedy they brought wood or whatever they had to help the widowed mother with 4 children build a new house. The family lived in a pieced-together tent until Grandma Stephenson and an unknown one legged man got their house built.

Ruth went to Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Florida. She worked a number of jobs over the years to supplement her husband's income. She and her family followed her husband, Chuck, to many interesting ports of call in the United States and Europe. After her children were grown she went back to school and became a very successful, Florida Real Estate Agent, working at the Forehand Real Estate Agency.

Ruth was devoted to her family and was one of the world's greatest cooks. She loved cooking for large family and friend get-togethers. She and Chuck both enjoyed music and especially when it was sung by live performers. She would not sing but enjoyed going out to Karaoke well up into her 80's. She was known for her sharp wit and great business sense. She was also known for taking in neighborhood kids and sailors Daddy would bring home and feeding them some good home-cooked meals.

She was a member of the Eastern Star, a member of the American Legion Ladies Aux. and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Aux., and the Lake Shore Woman's Club. She truly enjoyed her Sunday School Class, “The Young at Heart” at the Murray Hill United Methodist Church.

Ruth will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was very much loved and seemed to grow sweeter and kinder the older she got. She will not be forgotten.

The visitation will be held Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from 6-8pm at Hardage Giddens Edgewood Chapel. The funeral service will be held Thursday, May 21, 2015 11am at Murray Hill United Methodist Church burial will follow at Jacksonville Memory Gardens.

The funeral luncheon for family and friends of Ruth Wright will be Thursday (21 May 2015) at the Lakeshore Woman's Club, 2352 Lake Shore Blvd., Jacksonville FL 32210 at approximately 1:30. Covered dishes would be welcome, and the point of contact is Phyllis Presnell (904 349-4359).