Minister Michael E. Wright

MINISTER MICHAEL E. WRIGHT WAS BORN ON A CHILLY WINTER DAY, JANUARY 26, 1958, IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. HE EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY THAT WOULD TOUCH COUNTLESS LIVES.

ON AUGUST 14, 2025, MINISTER WRIGHT CLOSED HIS EARTHLY CHAPTER PEACEFULLY DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES IN THE COMFORTING PRESENCE OF HIS WIFE AND SISTER.

THE SON OF THE LATE MR. ELISHA BLACKMORE AND MS. VIRGINIA WRIGHT, THOUGH HIS BROTHER, ELISHA BLACKMORE, AND HIS MATERNAL AND PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS HAD PRECEDED HIM IN DEATH, THE VALUES THEY INSTILLED IN HIM LIVED ON THROUGH HIS ACTIONS AND WORDS.

MINISTER WRIGHT’S HEART FULL OF LOVE, HE LEAVES TO MOURN HIS WIFE, PATRICIA WRIGHT, THREE STEPSONS, ANTWAN PAYNE, CLIFTON PAYNE III, AND THOMAS HARRINGTON. HIS SIBLINGS, ARTHENIA (GREGORY) EVERETTE AND YOLANDA (BENJAMIN) WRIGHT ALL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, FRANCENE A. (OCIE) BLACKMORE-PERNELL OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS, VALERIE CARPENTER OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, TONYA ALLEN OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, KEVIN BLACKMORE AND INITA McCULLUM BOTH OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS, SHARED IN THE JOURNEY OF HIS LIFE. MINISTER WRIGHT’S SPECIAL GRANDSON, LARRY WHITE OF ARIZONA; SPECIAL AUNT, MARY J. FISHER OF ANNA, ILLINOIS; SPECIAL UNCLE, WILLIAM “BILLY” WRIGHT OF CONNECTICUT, TWO GODDAUGHTERS, LAKEYA WHEATON AND FELISHA RAY; ALSO HELD A DEAR PLACE IN HIS HEART, AS DID HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW, CREOLA MCGREGOR OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA.

A DEDICATED FRIEND TO MANY, MINISTER WRIGHT’S CIRCLE INCLUDED TOMMY THOMAS, MELVIN WILLIAMS, DOUGH MERIWEATHER, LARRY BUTCHER, STEVE GARNER, WALTER FRY, THOMAS MURRAY, MAMON TROTTER, AND RONNIE WALTON. HIS LOVE EXTENDED TO HIS MANY OTHER GODCHILDREN AND A HOST OF NIECES, NEPHEWS, COUSINS, EACH WHOM HE CHERISHED AND UPLIFTED WITH WISDOM AND PRAYERS.

AT THE AGE OF 17, HE ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, SERVING IN KOREA. UPON HIS RETURN, HE CONTINUED TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY AS A JOURNEYMAN MEAT CUTTER AT MEIJER AND IN THE MEAT DEPARTMENT AT KROGER.

HIS TRUE CALLING, HOWEVER, WAS IN MINISTRY. AS AN ASSOCIATE MINISTER UNDER DR. STANLEY MASON, TO BE CLOSER TO HOME, HE LATER BECAME A MEMBER OF GETHSEMANE CHURCH OF GOD IN SOUTH BEND, INDIANA UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BISHOP JOHN BROWN.

HIS PRESENCE WAS A SOURCE OF COMFORT AND GUIDANCE TO THOSE WHO SOUGHT HIS COUNSEL. MINISTER WRIGHT WAS A COUNSELOR IN HIS OWN UNIQUE WAY AT THE HOPE MISSION IN SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. HE ENJOYED PREACHING, WAS KNOWN FOR POSTING PRAYERS AND SCRIPUTRES ON SOCIAL MEDIA DAILY, SPREADING WORDS OF ENCOURAGMENT AND FAITH FAR AND WIDE. HIS LOVE FOR MIMING BROUGHT HIM PEACE.

A SPIRITED SPORTS FAN, MINISTER WRIGHT FOUND JOY I THE CAMARADERIE AND EXCITEMENT OF BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL, CELEBRATING EACH VICTORY AND LEARNING FROM EVERY LOSS, MUCH LIKE THE WAY HE APPROACHED LIFE’S CHALLENGES.

A celebration of life will take place at noon CST August 30, 2025 at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church 123 Helen Street, Michigan City with Bishop John Brown to give the eulogy. Burial will take place at a later date. Viewing will be 11am CST August 30, 2025 at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church 123 Helen Street, Michigan City.

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