Albert Melvin Wright III, “Mel,” 72, went home to be with the Lord on October 11, 2024. Born in Columbia, South Carolina, to the late Albert Melvin Wright, Jr. and Bobbie Steedly Wright, Mel grew up in Greenville and Florence, South Carolina, where he graduated from McClenaghan High School.
After receiving a BA in English Literature from the University of South Carolina, he worked with Southern Bell Telephone Company before being called into the ministry. Mel and his wife, Terry, moved to South Hamilton, Massachusetts, where he received a Master of Divinity from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He began his ministry in Clinton, South Carolina, as an associate pastor before accepting the senior pastor position at The First Presbyterian Church in Orangeburg, South Carolina. In 1986, he joined the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) and became the founding pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Orangeburg before planting a church in Blythewood, South Carolina.
After 17 years in full-time ministry, Mel honorably retired from the PCA, obtained his CFP and joined Merrill Lynch as a wealth management advisor in Columbia, South Carolina. He advised and counseled his beloved clients for 28 years while continuing to serve as an interim pastor in churches around the state. Mel retired from the bank as a senior vice president in 2020 and moved to Brevard, North Carolina, where he spent the past several years restoring and renovating their mountaintop home with views spanning the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Terry Pela Wright; his daughters, Katherine Wright and Sally Moore; his son-in-law, Jordan Moore; his granddaughter, Greta Moore; his sister and brother-in-law, Babs and Danny DeCamps; and his twin sisters, Joyce Wright and Janice Wilson. He was also a cherished uncle to Noah, Nathan, Wright, Anna, Jane, Charlie, Jon, and Rebecca. He was preceded in death by his first born granddaughter, June Moore in 2017.
Mel was a force of man, a Biblical scholar, a counselor; he had a heart for the brokenhearted, gave generously and abundantly. He spent his life telling anyone who would listen about the grace and eternal life found in Jesus. The impact he made on those fortunate enough to know him can never be measured.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on his birthday, October 25, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC (2101 Kanuga Road). All are welcome to attend.
*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.
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