Mourners gathered Sunday at a memorial service in Brooklyn
for Betty Wright, who died Friday evening in a car crash that has left her
husband, the beloved Rev. Timothy Wright, in critical condition at Geisinger Medical
Center in Danville.
The couple’s 14-year-old grandson was also seriously injured
and passed away Saturday night.
Timothy Wright, accompanied by his wife and grandson, had
attended a Church of God in Christ conference in Detroit, Leroy Johnson, a trustee at Grace
Tabernacle, said.
They were returning home, to Roosevelt, Long Island, when a
terrible accident happened on Interstate 80 in Greene
Township in north central Pennsylvania, at about
10:30 p.m. The Wrights’ car was struck head-on on eastbound Interstate 80 by a wrong-way
driver, who also died.
Police identified the other motorist as John Pick, 44, of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
Betty Wright, 58, died in the accident, police said.
Grandson D. J. Wright, 14, died Saturday evening, a nursing supervisor at Geisinger Medical
Center in Danville said Sunday, according to Newsday.
A third vehicle was involved in the fatal car crash, hitting
the Wrights’ car from behind. One of the passengers in this third vehicle was in
fair condition Sunday, the nursing supervisor added.
Timothy Wright is founder and pastor of Grace Tabernacle
Christian Center Church of God in Christ in Brooklyn.
Betty Wright was co-pastor of the Grace Tabernacle.
Yesterday’s service began before noon and lasted some four
hours, with hundreds of people attending, reports Newsday. James Gaylord, a
bishop of the church movement, described Betty Wright as “a caring person, one
of integrity.”
D. J. Wright, the 14-year-old grandson who also lost his
life due to injuries sustained in the accident, was mourned Sunday by Timothy
Wright’s congregation.
Parishioners also prayed for the recovery of Timothy Wright,
61, with speakers at the services assuring congregants that the pastor was
conscious and encouraging them to pray for his health.