Obituary

James Frank Wright, Jr., was born on Friday, May 27, 1960, to his parents, James Frank, Sr. and Dorothy Thomas Wright. He was affectionately known as “Jimmy” and took great delight in his close-knit family and many friends. Jimmy grew up with his brothers and only sister at that time in a Christian home environment. He cherished his grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins and always spoke fondly to all his adventures and joys of being a “Wright”. Jimmy was a part of the “Too Fresh Crew” and knew how to tell a joke, was swift with a comeback that had many rolling to the floor in laughter. Jimmy was educated in the Putnam County School System, played varsity football as a quarterback (#19) and graduated from Palatka High School in 1979. He briefly attended St. Johns River Community College yet pursued a different journey as he became employed at a young age with the City of Palatka and Putnam County Parks & Recreation Services. He became a Referee Official with the Florida High School Athletic Association, Putnam County Recreation, Palatka PAL and Pop Warner Athletic Associations. He was an all-around and skilled referee official for basketball, football, softball and baseball programs. He maintained all parks in Putnam County for over 30 years.

Jimmy was awarded the “Unsung Hero Award” in 2004, the “One Man in a Million” award in 2010, the “I am Legend” and “You Make the Difference” awards in 2018 and numerous of other local recognitions. From his youth, Jimmy was a member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and ordained a Deacon by Pastor Frederick T. Demps and served faithfully in various ministries to include the bus ministry, trustee board, male chorus, usher board, and lawn maintenance. Jimmy officially retired in 2015 from Putnam County Parks & Recreation, having completed 35-years of meritorious employment. He loved his Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida Gators! Jimmy truly enjoyed life and pressed through many adversities with courage and hope for a better tomorrow. Jimmy had many loves and the children he fathered were his greatest pride and joy. His passion for coaching, refereeing, and working at E.W. Lawson & Son Funeral Home opened a window to an abundance of new friends and relationships. He married his loving and dedicated wife, Kathy Swindler-Wright, on December 9, 2000, and they shared a life rooted in and sustained by God and His Word. Jimmy peacefully transitioned from his earthly life at 1:13 a.m. on November 23, 2023, with his wife by his side.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, his devoted brother and sister, Curtis Wayne Wright, Sr. and Faye Threet.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 23 years, Kathy Swindler-Wright; his children, Shamekia (Stanford, Jr.) Wright-Givens; Vinikie (James) Wright-Brown of Daphne, AL; James F. “Lil Jimmy” Wright, III; Jamisha Wright of Myrtle Beach, SC; Pastor Jarvis F. (Karla) Wright, Sr.; Jasmine Wright; Ruben (Ashley) Wright of Orange Park, FL; Tavarous Wright; Justyce (Reginald)Wright-Horner; Mikaila Jones of Oviedo, FL; and bonus daughter, Mushawna (Reginald) Rasher; his grandchildren: Niya, Stanford III, Michael Jr, Jamya, Kamaria, Curtis, James IV, Zarnaijah, Ja’Keria, Emma, Sha’Nyra, Harlynn, Ja’Liyah, Jayla, Jarvis II, Jai’Ceon, Heaven, Ronald, Jakelvis, and Zakariya; brothers, Stevie Wright of Killeen, TX; Derral Wright, Ricardo (Melissa) Wright of Orange Park, FL, Casino (Althea) Pope of Woodbridge, VA, and Christopher Garvin; sisters, Talisha Wright- Robinson of Clearwater, FL, Helen McGill, Spencenia (Min. Dwayne) Barron of Ocala, FL and Kimberly Zeigler of Lithonia, GA; uncles: Rev. Robert L. (Ethel) Wright Sr. and Willie (Pearl) Wright; aunts, Thelma Hughes and Inez Beauford; sisters-in-law, Vivian (Cleveland) Tinker, Debra Blackshear, and Olivia (Chris) Jones; brothers-in-law, Frankie Threet, Phillip (Dedra) Cason, and Freddie Taylor II; godchildren, Keyonn Johnson, Latreasa Rich, Tiffany Poole, Brian Ruth, Calvin Moorer, Nicole and Eric Rogers, Sammie Hendrieth, Torianda Stuart, Jah Stuart, Dominique Seymour, Kristen Gillespie, Tevel and Tivon Adams, Kaleb and Neveah Nelson, Derrick Williams; god-siblings, Michelle Session and Verdell Felder; devoted stepmother, Tomacena Wise; A host of cousins, nieces and nephews; and special friends of whom he adored and loved him dearly, including special cousins, David Wright, Lori Hughes-Troutman, Darlene Leonard, Regina Norwood.