Matthew Leonard Wright, Jr., son of the late Matthew L. Wright Sr. and Edna Cummings Wright, was born on December 2, 1946 in Trenton, South Carolina. On January 30, 2011, Matthew was called home for eternal rest after a long illness. "Curly" or "Prentiss," as he was affectionately called by close friends and family, grew up in the North Santee community of Georgetown County, SC. He was a loving husband to his wife of forty years Mary Vanderhorst Wright and a dedicated father to his children Marla, Melisse, Matthew III and Megan. Matthew was a 1964 graduate of Howard High School in Georgetown, SC and from there attended North Carolina A&T College, Greensboro, NC. After being drafted into the Army and serving a tour of duty in Korea, he finished his education at the University of New Haven in Connecticut where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in General Management. He was a dedicated and loyal employee of several entities before his illness, having worked as a human resources manager for the International Paper, a store and district manager for Burger King and later retiring from the 3V Chemical CO-OP. Matthew was also very involved in his community and worked tirelessly to make it better. He was a believer in people and the unlimited possibilities of what one could accomplish; and offered encouragement and opportunities whenever he could. He was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and was a little league baseball and football organizer and coach. He worked with North Santee Parks and Recreation, and was a member of Mt. Zion AME Church. Matthew was preceded in death by his father, Matthew L. Wright, Sr. and his sister, Lola Elizabeth Wright Williams. Memories of Matthew will be cherished by his devoted wife, Mary of Georgetown, SC; his children, Marla Wright Jackson (Nathaniel) of Houston, TX, Melisse Wright (Marcus Doiley) of Georgetown, SC, Matthew Wright, III (Crystal) of Columbia, SC and Megan Wright of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Jaia, Marcus, and Sacario; his mother, Edna Cummings Wright of Charlotte, NC; his father-in-law, Rev. C R. Vanderhorst and his mother-in-law, Emma J. Vanderhorst both of Georgetown, SC; two nieces, Jawana Williams Carter (Demond) of Charlotte, NC and Tamika Williams Obeng (Richard) of Chicago, Illinois; two grandnieces, Amariah and Asadah; his brother-in-law, Gerald Williams of Georgetown, SC; his sister-in-law Phyllis Dilligard of Decatur, GA; two adopted sisters, Leola Nelson of Georgetown, SC and Dr. G. Dorothea Taylor of Aiken, SC; aunts and uncles, Mrs. Gladys Alexander, Mrs. Ruth Cummings, Mrs. Bernice Taylor, Mrs. Alethia Cummings, Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Wright Sr., Mr. & Mrs. Willie Wright; and a host of other relatives and friends.