Mr. Arthur B. Wright Jr.

WRIGHT, Mr. Arthur B. Age- 84 passed away Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Landings of Genesee Valley. Family hour 10:00 AM Friday, November 1, 2024, from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd., Holly, Mi. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Funeral Home 10:00 AM Friday. Mr. Wright will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed during the family hour. Mr. Arthur B. Wright, Jr. was born March 30, 1940, to the late Arthur B. and Viva Wright, Sr. in Pontotoc, Mississippi. Arthur accepted Christ as a young man at the McDonald Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Pontotoc, MS. Prior to attending college he was formally educated in the public schools of Pontotoc, MS. Arthur completed his service in the United States Army and received an honorable discharge in 1969. During his time in the Army, Arthur earned a Good Conduct Medal, Expert (Rifle M-14), and Sharpshooter (Rifle) awards. After leaving the military, Arthur moved to Flint, Michigan. He worked at General Motors and Wright Funeral Home while transitioning into the field of Education. Arthur received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Rust College in Holly Springs, MS and his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI. Arthur had a rich and long standing career in Flint Community Schools. In 1967, Arthur served as a Mathematics Teacher and Staff Specialist at Lowell Junior High School. Arthur continued to soar and demonstrate his administrative leadership with the Flint community. In 1979, he was promoted to Assistant Principal of Whittier Middle school and served in that capacity until 1986. In 1988, Arthur became the Principal of Bryant Middle School and that same year became the Assistant Principal of Holmes Middle School. In 1990, Arthur was appointed as the principal of Holmes Middle School. Now if you know anything about working with middle school students, it is no easy feat; however, Arthur was up for the challenge! Arthur was a dedicated educator and visionary leader, he exemplified a standard of excellence. Holmes was a labor of love. Not only did he have a love for the students and families, he LOVED the staff. He led, modeled, coached, supported and encouraged staff to give and do their very best. It is impossible to quantify the magnitude of his direct reach in cultivating the lives, professional talents and gifts of those that were blessed to work with him. Arthur led the Physical Altercation Campaign, a student action team, which consisted of mayors and student teams working collaboratively to bring positive changes within their school and community. Visitors from all over the world came to observe students and teachers at Holmes Middle School. Several partnerships were developed with business and community entities. Holmes continued to be a model for building learning communities within the classroom and school. Arthur formed the “21 Club” to mentor and motivate students to achieve the highest score possible for the ACT, a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. Arthur gave students hope, opportunities and new perspectives to strive beyond their current circumstances. Not only was Athur generous with his time, but his financial resources as well for student-mentee lunches and dinners. He also paid for prom outfits for students, family members and friends. His wife, Diana fully supported his servatitude’s heart, by sewing custom prom dresses with the fabric Arthur purchased. Arthur’s hard work and leadership had a profound impact on Holmes Middle School and was acknowledged by local, state and national leaders. Arthur received an Appreciation Plaque from the City of Flint in 1978. On September 29, 1993, Arthur was bestowed the City of Flint Office of the Mayor Proclamation from the late Mayor Woodrow Stanley. In 2001, the former secretary of Education, Richard Wilson Riley (former President Bill Clinton’s administration) visited Holmes and presented the United States of America Department of Education Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Program Promising Site plaque to Arthur on behalf of Holmes Middle School. Arthur retired from Flint Community Schools in 2003. Although he stepped away from the day-to-day administrative duties of leading Holmes Middle School, he continued to serve as an Educational Leadership consultant with Joyce Beasley and the BBP Group, providing mentorship and professional learning to principal leaders and school districts across the country for a number of years. Arthur was always impeccably dressed, he was a dapper and distinguished man! He wore suits to work every day as a principal and consultant. In his leisure, at home or running errands, his clothes were well coordinated from head to toe with a matching baseball cap. Arthur was charismatic, thoughtful, intelligent and humble. He used humor as his knack for connecting with all people. Arthur loved sports, especially football, particularly his beloved Detroit Lions. Arthur thoroughly enjoyed traveling across the country visiting various casinos. Arthur B. Wright Jr. will be forever cherished in the memories of his loving and devoted wife for over 27 years, Diana D. Wright; daughter, Aretha Tina (Anthony) Wright-Giles, Sr. of Dyer, IN; son, Arthur B. Wright, III of Farmington Hills, MI; grandchildren, Alexis Giles of Dyer, IN and Anthony Giles, Jr. of Hammond, IN; bonus sons, Maurice Dantzler of Memphis, TN, Douglas (Bobbie) Dantzler, Sr. of Flint, MI and Jeremy Dantzler of Ann Arbor, MI; bonus grandchildren, Eliyana Floyd of Washington, DC, Marissa Dantzler of Memphis, TN, Douglas Dantzler, II and RaVeen Coleman of Flint, MI, Manuela Rodriguez-Dantzler of Ann Arbor, MI and Sofia Dantzler of New York City, NY; sister, Willa Roberta Crowley; father-in-law, Calvin (Betty) Maberry, Sr. of Flint, MI; brother-in-law, Calvin (Abigail) Maberry, Jr. of Jackson, MS; sisters-in-law, Tammy (Charles) Marshall of Grand Blanc, MI and Corey (Darius) Brown of Parkland, FL; cousins, Memory (Freddie) Wright of Indiana and Victoria (Frank) Garrett of Flint, MI; nieces, Ramona Shonte Crowley of Pontiac, MI, Marquita (Leroy) Collins III, of Flint, MI; Kimberly Maberry of Conyers, GA, LaTonya, Jonique and Tasha Donald of Flint, MI, and Tabitha (Eric) Taylor, Sr. of Waxahachie, TX; nephews, Rubin Whitmore II of Milwaukee, WI, Chad (Angelica) Crowley of Flint, MI, Dexter (Codeona) Johnson, and Marcell Kelly all of Flint, MI; a host of family and friends including best friend of almost 30 years, Elnora “Cookie” Urquhart of Harvest, AL, the Holmes Middle School Family, Flint Community Schools and greater Flint community. Arthur was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur B. and Viva Wright, Sr.; sister, Vivian Whitmore; mother-in-law, Eunice Maberry; brother-in-law, Cornelius Maberry, Sr.; sisters-in-law, Michelle Peterson, Candia Payne, and nephews, Cornelius “Ton” Maberry and Jerome Maberry Mr. Wright was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army.

Mr. Arthur B. Wright Jr.

March 30, 1940 - October 20, 2024