Henry MacMillan Wright, Sr., was born January 1, 1935, in Wilmington, N.C. He was the son of the late John Laurens and Jane MacMillan Wright. Henry is survived by his daughter Virginia and her husband B.V. Belk III, son Henry Wright, Jr. and his wife Suzanne, 6 grandchildren, Lindsay and Hannah Strickland, Harrison Belk, Madison, Mackenzie and Marley Wright, 1 great-grandchild, Eli Mercado, brother Laurens Wright and his wife Allene, sister Jane Wright, sister Helen Redwine and her husband Craig, 8 nieces and nephews, as well as his long-time companion and love, Charlotte Buckley and his former wife Ginny Simms Wright.
Henry attended Eastover Elementary and Charlotte Country Day School and graduated from Darlington School in Rome, G.A. He attended his beloved UNC Chapel Hill (Go Heels!), Thomas Edison College, and earned a Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitation and Substance Abuse Counseling from East Carolina University.
Henry had a private practice as a Licensed Counselor for 25 years in Wilmington, N.C. He was a pioneer in Anger Management Counseling and helped over 500 clients in various group settings. Henry also helped many regional corporations with Employee Assistance Programs, including grief and trauma counseling, and seminars on various subjects.
He was an avid sailor and lover of the sea. While in the Navy, he served aboard the USS Belle Grove LSD-2 and the minesweeper USS Plover. Henry fulfilled a lifelong dream when he purchased a 41 foot sloop Tais in 1986. He and Henry Jr. sailed all over the Mediterranean in Tais, and then crossed the Atlantic to Barbados. They then sailed to South America and ended their 12,000 mile journey in Wrightsville Beach. Henry wrote and published a book The Henry’s at Sea about their exciting year-long journey.
Henry was a caring counselor, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He always had time to listen or share a story and was loved by everyone who knew him. His gentle nature and smile will be missed by all.
A memorial service will be held in Wilmington, N.C. for family and close friends at a later date.
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