Funeral arrangements have been finalized for Commissioner Eddie Wright.
The funeral is scheduled for Monday, September 14 at 1:00 p.m. at South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church in Henderson. The family visitation will be at 11:00 a.m. that same morning.
Mr. Wright will be buried Tuesday, September 15 at the Maryland National Memorial Cemetery in Beltsville, MD.
Longtime District 5 Vance County Commissioner Eddie L. Wright passed away during the night Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Wright was first elected in 2000. His seat was due for election next year, although for many it seemed as if he never ran opposed all these years. He served on the Granville-Vance Public Health District Board and was a minister of a local church.
The Vance County Board of Commissioners has 60 days to fill Wright’s unexpired term.
Vance County Attorney Jonathan Care provided WIZS News with the North Carolina General Statute. N.C. G. S. 153a-27 essentially means the newly appointed board member must be of the same political party, a resident of the same district, that the board shall consult the county executive committee of, in this case, the Democratic Party and, if an appointment is not made within 60 days, then the appointment is to be made by the Clerk of Court. Neither the board nor the clerk is bound by the Democratic Executive Committee’s recommendation.
For now, however, it is not about who will be appointed.
Archie B. Taylor is the Chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners. Wright’s death came as a shock to him as it has to many others. While Wright has suffered from joint ailments for years, no one in the public seems to have expected his death at this time.
Taylor said, “The county is going to feel his abscence. He was a man of great faith and spiritual beliefs, an elder of the church, a pastor and preacher, and he was a champion of the little man. He was definately wanting of a better quality of life for everyone in this county. He was a great advocate for those who didn’t have a voice. He is going to be missed.
“His voice of reason and compassion will be missed. He showed his faith by his work. (Wright) had a very supportive family during this illness. They have been extremely supportive of him and that speaks highly of them and their spiritual values.”
Taylor said, “Our prayers are with the family.”