Jerry David Wright of Rabun died on Oct. 14, 2011 at age 58 after a brief battle with cancer. Jerry was born in Mobile on Dec. 22, 1952. He graduated from Vigor High School, attended Faulkner State University, continued his studies at the University of Alabama and graduated from the University of South Alabama.
He became “Coach Wright” to many as he began his coaching career at Evangel Christian School. He coached and taught at McGill-Toolen and Robertsdale before moving to Baldwin County High School in 1989, where he coached and taught for the remainder of his career.
His baseball coaching career was prolific; as head baseball coach at McGill his teams won four area championships and made four state playoff appearances, and as head coach at BCHS he led his teams to seven area championships and 11 playoff appearances, including reaching the semi-finals in 1996 and the quarter-finals in 2005.
He was selected as East-West All-Star Game coach 10 times and North-South All-Star game coach once. He was an eight-time area coach of the year, one-time regional coach of the year and six-time Baldwin County coach of the year. He stepped down as Baldwin County’s baseball coach in 2007 to pursue and complete his master’s degree from the University of West Alabama.
His career win-loss record was 491-290 with a record at BCHS of 383-245. Jerry also coached the varsity football offensive line and was the freshman football head coach, earning freshman coach of the year honors three times. Jerry has been inducted into the Baldwin County Varsity Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Baldwin County High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Roscoe Wright; his stepfather, Guy Wilkinson; and his grandson, Callan White.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy Wright; his mother, Myra Badillo (Joe); his mother- and father-in-law, Jeanette and Vern Hadley; his children Jenifer White (Chris), Chasity Byrd and Clifton Byrd (Erica); and his grandchildren, Swayze, Swayden and Mary Syndel.
His passing is mourned by his family, his friends, his brothers of the Mystic Stripers Society and the communities whose young women and men to whom he taught academics and character.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 at Bay Minette First Baptist Church, where he was a longtime member.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at 10 a.m., at Bay Minette First Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Guy’s Chapel Cemetery in Rabun. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Baldwin County High School Baseball program, 1 Tiger Dr., Bay Minette, AL 36507.
Funeral arrangements by Norris Funeral Home, Bay Minette.
