Anderson Wright
1936 -
Anderson Wright was born in Oxford to John Henry and Janie Belle Wright. His father passed away at an early age and his grandparents, Johnny and Pauline Wright, raised him. He attended the Rosenwald elementary school in Oxford and graduated from Washington Street High school in Covington.
Prior to completing high school, Anderson worked after school in the food service department at what was then Oxford College and assisted his grandmother who did laundry for the students and faculty of the college. His grandmother did not have money to buy starch to be used in ironing, so it was Anderson’s task to go out in the fields and find “white clay” which, after mixing with water, was used as starch.
Following high school, Anderson attended a mechanical trade school in Atlanta. Subsequently he enlisted in the United States Navy and served on active duty from January 1955 to January 1959. He continued to serve in the Navy active reserve until 1996, when he retired.
Wright worked at the U. S. Postal service in Los Angeles California from 1959 to 1992, when he retired as manager of a field maintenance office. Anderson and his wife, Mary returned home to Oxford in 2008 and immediately got involved in the community. He volunteered in the Oxford Historical Cemetery project and joined the Oxford Historical Cemetery Foundation, working with the president of the foundation and the City Council to identify, mark and plat all grave sites in the cemetery, using a SONAR system that was developed by the U.S. Navy. He personally planted flowers in Ellen’s garden, located in the cemetery.
He is presently a member of the Trees, Parks, and Recreation Board, the Board of Directors of the Oxford Historical Shrine Society, the Oxford Lions Club, and the Board of Directors of the Oxford Rosenwald School Association. Anderson is also the president of the Oxford Historical Society and lifelong member of Rust Chapel United Methodist Church, where he serves as treasurer and lay leader.
Prior to completing high school, Anderson worked after school in the food service department at what was then Oxford College and assisted his grandmother who did laundry for the students and faculty of the college. His grandmother did not have money to buy starch to be used in ironing, so it was Anderson’s task to go out in the fields and find “white clay” which, after mixing with water, was used as starch.
Following high school, Anderson attended a mechanical trade school in Atlanta. Subsequently he enlisted in the United States Navy and served on active duty from January 1955 to January 1959. He continued to serve in the Navy active reserve until 1996, when he retired.
Wright worked at the U. S. Postal service in Los Angeles California from 1959 to 1992, when he retired as manager of a field maintenance office. Anderson and his wife, Mary returned home to Oxford in 2008 and immediately got involved in the community. He volunteered in the Oxford Historical Cemetery project and joined the Oxford Historical Cemetery Foundation, working with the president of the foundation and the City Council to identify, mark and plat all grave sites in the cemetery, using a SONAR system that was developed by the U.S. Navy. He personally planted flowers in Ellen’s garden, located in the cemetery.
He is presently a member of the Trees, Parks, and Recreation Board, the Board of Directors of the Oxford Historical Shrine Society, the Oxford Lions Club, and the Board of Directors of the Oxford Rosenwald School Association. Anderson is also the president of the Oxford Historical Society and lifelong member of Rust Chapel United Methodist Church, where he serves as treasurer and lay leader.