Bishop Phillip L. Wright

The Honorable Bishop Phillip Leroi Wright was on born April 21, 1953, in Chicago, IL, to loving parents, Reaber B. Wright and Theresa E. Leftridge Wright Standifer. He was the oldest of seven siblings whom he loved dearly, and he was a "mother's boy." Bishop Phillip L. Wright departed this earthly life on June 22, 2021.Bishop Wright began his education in the Chicago Public Schools, graduating from Robert Lindblom Math & Science Academy in 1971. Bishop was an honor student throughout his elementary, junior high, and high school years. He participated in spelling bees, science competitions, and won his high school political student body presidency. He also excelled at athletics during his high school years, playing baseball, running track, and was a star football player.Bishop Wright furthered his education, receiving a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science-Industrial Arts-Plumbing Science from the United Association School of Engineering-Purdue University Contract Campus. He also attended Southern Illinois University, Moody Bible College, and A.O.H. Theological Seminary. He went on to work for the State of Illinois Department of Public Health as a Certified Plumbing Inspector. Bishop was a licensed inspector with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, a member of the Illinois Plumbing Inspectors Association, and a member of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers Association.In 1964, Bishop Wright joined the Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Overcoming Church of God in Chicago, IL, where the late Overseer James H. Durham was his pastor whom he loved and respected very much. At the young age of 11 Bishop Wright was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. While under the leadership of Overseer Durham, as a young man, he sang in the choir, worked with the church printing press developing Sunday School and Young People Love Joy (YPLJ) books. By the age of 18, he was a junior Sunday School teacher and president of the YPLJ Band. Bishop tarried fervently until he was filled with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost on August 31, 1975. He also accepted his call into the ministry in 1975.Bishop Wright met the love of his life, Arneatha Garrett-Wright, at the A.O.H. Youth Convention in 1970. They were married on December 23, 1972, and to this union, they were blessed with four beautiful children: three girls and one boy. In 1983, Bishop Wright was appointed pastor of the Sheriff's Temple A.O.H. Church of God in Champaign, IL, where he served for 19 years. He was appointed pastor of the Greater Gospel Temple A.O.H. Church of God in Cleveland, OH, in 2001 and the Harris Temple A.O.H. Church of God in Chicago, IL, in 2002. He served as pastor for 14 and 13 years, respectively. After 19 years of pastoral ministry,Bishop Wright was consecrated as Bishop by the late Bishop George W. Ayers in 2002.Bishop Phillip L. Wright was a servant of God who was very serious about the scripture that teaches all of us to "study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," as stated in II Timothy 2:15. Therefore he studied with many Jewish scholars from Israel and leaders of other faiths to get a deeper understanding of God's Word, in order to further educate himself and the people of God. Bishop travelled to Israel several times to get a true heartfelt visual of whereour Lord and Savior was born and lived, along with the areas where former Patriarch saints lived. Sometimes he went alone; once, in 2011, he was accompanied by his wife, Mother Wright, and some members from his former churches, and in November 2017, membersof the Cathedral, some on his Diocese, and another pastor in the gospel accompanied him. He was truly a leader that loved and upheld the Apostolic Doctrine.Bishop Wright was a very faithful and loving pastor of the Cathedral of the Cross A.O.H. Church of God in Birmingham, AL, from 2015 until he departed to be with the Lord. He was deeply loved in return by the members there, members he pastored at other A.O.H.churches, as well as members in the National A.O.H. body, and his many friends. He presided over the A.O.H. Church of God, Inc. Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana Dioceses. He was the Council Presider for the A.O.H. Church, Inc. Northern-North Central Districts. From his youth, Bishop Wright held positions at the local, district, and national levels in the A.O.H. Church of God, Inc. He served as past president of the A.O.H. Church of God, Inc. Northern Regional Youth Convention; National Executive Board Secretary, National Bishop Board Secretary, National Church Administrator, and the National Publication Department Director. Bishop Phillip L. Wright was preceded in death by: his father, Reaber Wright; his mother, Reverend Theresa Leftridge Wright Standifer; his sister, Elder Regina Newman; and his brother, Elder Richard Wright.Bishop Wright leaves to cherish his memory: his loving and devoted wife of 48 years, Mother Arneatha Wright; their four very loving natural children, Almeda "Toni," Phyllis, Loraine, and Phillip "PJ"; four bonus children, Dr. Mykah (Jonathan) Jackson, Regina Reese," Vernetta, and Rikkí; nine grandchildren; Phillip "Bam," Malik, Aisha, RaNijah, Amia, Rishaun, Auryana, India, and Za'mora; seven great-grandchildren; five sisters, Eleanor "Gena" Frost, Minster LaVerne Williams, Jaqueline D. Wright, Dr. Juanita (Warren) Woodson, and Stephanie Treadway; one brother, William "Billie" Standifer; one uncle, Harry Leftridge; three aunts, Alma Leftridge, Leslie Edwards, and Debra Edwards; a host of god-children, god-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other close relatives, and friends; the Cathedral of the Cross A.O.H. church family; and the A.O.H. Church of God, Inc. national church family.

Events

Visitation

July 2, 2021, 12:00 pm
July 2, 2021, 6:00 pm
Cathedral of the Cross AOH Church of God
1480 Center Point Pkwy.
Center Point, AL 35215
Phone: 205-854-7777

Memorial Service

July 2, 2021, 7:00 pm
July 2, 2021, 12:00 am
Cathedral of the Cross AOH Church of God
1480 Center Point Pkwy.
Center Point, AL 35215
Phone: 205-854-7777

Lying in Repose

July 3, 2021, 11:00 am
July 3, 2021, 12:00 pm
Cathedral of the Cross AOH Church of God
1480 Center Point Pkwy.
Center Point, AL 35215
Phone: 205-854-7777

Service

July 3, 2021, 12:00 pm
July 3, 2021, 12:00 am
Cathedral of the Cross AOH Church of God
1480 Center Point Pkwy.
Center Point, AL 35215
Phone: 205-854-7777

Final Resting Place

Jefferson Memorial Cemetery
1591 Gadsden Highway
Birmingham, AL 35235

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