James M. Wright

James M. “Jim” Wright, 91, of Eden passed away Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at Ancora Compassionate Care’s “Gibson House” in Wentworth.

A gathering of family and friends celebrating his life will be held at a later date at the Member’s Club at St. James, NC.

He was the son of Homer E. and Alice Hopper Wright. Jim is preceded in death by his sister, Martha Wright Mangum and brother, Homer E. Wright, Jr. He is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn Miller Wright; his daughter, Emily Miller Wright Guarino; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim was educated in the Leaksville Public School System, graduating from Leaksville High School. Jim was a Football All American in 1951 and was honored by the National Sportswriters Association for Outstanding Performance and Leadership in High School.

He was placed in the first Accelerated Freshman Class of 1955, entering Duke on June 9, and was granted a football scholarship by Duke University and awarded membership in the Iron Duke Varsity Club in 1952 and 1953 and was also a letterman in Track and Field. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Phi Chapter.

As a freshman, Jim qualified for the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corp. Upon graduation, he selected the option to join the United States Marine Corps and reported to Quantico, Virginia for Platoon Leaders Class. Upon completion of training at Quantico, Virginia, he requested and was accepted in the Navy/Marine pilots training school at Pensacola, Florida, being one of two Marines accepted in this program. He was then assigned to Corpus Christi, Texas.

He was appointed to a number of Temporary Additional Duties (TAD) generally focused in the Caribbean where Soviet inspired revolutions and threats were daily events. As the threats were contained, this group was disbanded and Wright and the remainder of the group received early release by contract but were requested by the Commandant to maintain Active Reserve Status for the remainder of their enlistment period and did not receive final discharge until 1968. Wright was honorably discharged from the active Marine Corps as a Captain. He was a member of the American Legion.

Following a BS. Pre-Med from Duke, Jim joined a family business, Wright’s of Meadow Greens, and became the President in 1962.

Jim was President of First Brunswick Co., with his nephew Kenan C. Wright, Building houses for the Long Beach community beginning in 1983.

In 1984, he joined his brother, Homer E. Wright, Jr. in a residential community project in Southport, North Carolina, which became known as St. James Plantation, as Vice President of Development Officer. He researched the history of the Southport area and applied this information toward development focusing on the nature of this unique location with emphasis on its unusual past by locating Indian campgrounds and charting facilities where pine trees were processed for tar, pitch and turpentine for their export. He worked with the U.S. Corp of Engineers in mapping the one-hundred-year flood plain that protected residential sites from being built within these locations and getting approval for the widening of the causeway that was necessary to connect the entrance to the Intracoastal waterway and other accesses that were necessary. Jim conducted an environmental impact study which was required to build the St. James Marina locating any restrictions from any rare or endangered wildlife and plants within a one mile radius of the proposed site. This approval resulted in the construction of the 172 boat slips for the marina and additional vertical boat storage.

Jim approached the Audubon Society and the U.S. Golf Association to join their new venture in protecting the unusual bird population, some rare or near extinction. St. James was granted a Charter Membership as an Audubon Sanctuary. As a resident of Southport, he built bird houses at key locations on the two golf courses that had been completed, locating distances to the greens. In public journals, it was reported that he moved several roads to protect “rare and unusual trees and landscapes.”

A vital part of St. James is the Beach Club located on Oak Island. Jim worked tirelessly with the Oak Island Town Board in getting permits for the structure and swimming pool. Permission was granted for the construction, water, electrical, parking, and sewer. The facility opened to St. James residents the following day.

He was instrumental in the design of the St. James entrance element and designed the Chapel in 1991. The Chapel design came from a remote church that had been moved from the banks of Cape Fear River many years ago and restored. It was an exact replica and is currently being used for services, weddings, and special events.

As the years progressed, St. James became the premier Community in Southeastern United States and has been honored twice by “New Places Magazine” and twice by “Matt Lauer on the Today Show”, and showcased on the “Kiplinger Report” where Southport was recommended as a top four places to live in America.

Jim served on the St. James Plantation Association Board of Directors. He received various awards in Sales, Service, and Dedication to St. James Plantation in 1995 and 1996. He served as Vice President of Development from 1984 until his retirement in 2000. He served on the Long Beach Planning Board and was a member of the Audubon Society in Southport. Jim was also a member of the Southport Rotary Club and Southport Chamber of Commerce.

In Leaksville and Eden, Jim was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce, Meadow Greens Country Club Board, Leaksville Rotary Club, and a fundraiser for the Duke Endowment.

Other accomplishments in Jim’s life include being a scuba diver with Piedmont Diving and Rescue Association, a Private Pilot with Commercial License, President of Wright’s Inc. and Wright’s Men’s Store (later Williams and Company), and a member of many local boards and clubs.

Jim was a member and former Trustee of Leaksville United Methodist Church.

He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, building homes with his brother in Eden, sailing the Virgin Islands, and golfing in many, many, tournaments throughout his life.

He was devoted to his family, his communities, and his career. Jim’s place in this world was clearly marked, and he will be missed.

Donations may be made in his name to Gibson House, Ancora Compassionate Care, PO Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com.