Sandra Church Wright

Sandra C. Wright, 87, of Asheville, passed away Wednesday April 23, 2025 at Simonds Health Care Center of Deerfield Retirement Community. She was born on May 2, 1937 in Asheville, NC, the second daughter of the late George Bland and Lenore Edwards Church.

Mrs. Wright attended Carson-Newman College from 1955-58, and then transferred and graduated from Appalachian State Teachers College in 1959 with a BS in English. She began teaching English at Owen High School in Black Mountain, NC.

She was engaged and then married Thomas J. Wright in January 1962. She shared a deep and devoted partnership with her beloved husband, Tom, throughout their 56-year marriage. In 1964 Sandy and Tom moved to the city of New Bern in eastern North Carolina. Later she studied library science at East Carolina University, earning her MS degree in 1972. She worked as a librarian at Tayloe Elementary school in Washington, NC.

Sandra was physically active throughout her life and indulged her competitive spirit playing golf. She travelled in her later years, spending time in Montana with her husband and taking an Alaskan cruise with her twin sister, Sheilia Whitener, accompanied by their husbands. After living in the Raleigh area for over 30 years, Sandy and Tom returned to Asheville, NC in 2013 to live nearer to her sister Sheilia and to join the senior community at Deerfield.

Surviving are her two children, daughter Jacqueline D. Wright; and son James B. Wright (Terri Rucker); and four grandchildren, Torin, Arianna, Natessa, and Kiann Wright.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Monsignor Roger Arnsparger on Tuesday, May 6, at 10:00 a.m. at the Basilica of St. Lawrence. Interment will follow at Lewis Memorial Park. The family will receive guests thirty minutes prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, if desired, friends may make contributions to a charity of your choice.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.