Olive Lynette Wright

Olive Lynette (Glenn) Wright, 88, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday morning, January 3, 2015, after passing at her home. Born July 21, 1926 at home in Chickamauga, GA to Elder G. and Elizabeth Archer Glenn, Olive graduated with honors from Gordon Lee High School in 1943. During those early years, Olive played H.S. basketball, was elected president of her senior class, and loved riding her horse, Boots, with her best friend June Hall Jewell. She then attended 2 years at Shorter College before enrolling in the University of Chattanooga where she met her husband, Collins Wright. He had just finished football practice when she walked in to the "malt shop" where he was sitting, and love bloomed. While at U.C., Olive studied at the Cadek Conservatory, earning her degree in Voice with a minor in Organ; at least once a week, you could hear Olive singing on the local radio. After graduation Olive and Collins moved to Chickamauga where she taught Music, Voice, Piano, and Glee Club at Gordon Lee until in a couple of years, along came little Mike. Olive loved her church and was a member of First Baptist Church of Chickamauga for 82 years, where she served as Music Director for 32 years plus 2 years during her high school days; an auto wreck cut short her music career. During her service time, Olive directed 4 graded school choirs, the adult choir, and an ensemble group along with playing the piano for rehearsals while teaching choir; she played the organ for church services while directing the choir with her hand and head and singing alto all at the same time. Olive influenced and instilled values in hundreds of children during those "days gone by" of "choir mothers" and little cherub-looking white robes with black bows. As one former music student quoted, "nothing impressed us more than the compassion that Olive showed in dealing with the least of us". Olive was proud to be a part of her lifelong community of Chickamauga and tirelessly gave back to it. She organized, then directed the Chickamauga Community Chorus for 10 years. Olive has served as Chairman of the Walker County Library Board, Chmn. of the Cherokee Regional Library Board, and Chmn. of the Chickamauga Library Board where she was a member over 40 years. In the year 2000, Olive was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award from her Gordon Lee H.S. Alumni Society for her contributions to her community. Olive is Past President of the Hutcheson Hospital Auxiliary and a member, where she "just loved being one of the girls", for 33 years since its inception in 1979; in 2010 she received the Life Time Achievement Award from Hutcheson for her selfless service. As an avid reader Olive was a member of the Chickamauga Quid Nunc Study Club for 25 years; she had a passion for bridge playing, was a longtime square dancer, a recreational slalom water skier, and made her family very proud when she quit smoking after 57 years. Not surprisingly, Olive joined her husband Collins in one of her main interests though, pulling for the Georgia Bulldogs. Their passion for the Dawgs included supporting the UGA/FCA Chaplains' Program, where they were awarded the prestigious Tom Landry Award in 2008. But most importantly, Olive always brought a bit of God given grace and friendliness to everyone with whom she came in contact. Olive was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years N. Collins Wright, father Elder G. Glenn, Sr., mother Elizabeth Archer Glenn, and brothers Elder Glenn, Jr. and J. Archer Glenn. She is survived by her loving children, son Michael (Carolyn) Wright, daughter Lynn (Jerry) Campbell, 2 grandsons Andy and Nick Campbell, 1 great-granddaughter Haylei Cain, sisters-in-law Jo Ann Glenn and Sarah Glenn, and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends and family from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Wilson Funeral Home in Chickamauga. Funeral Services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Chickamauga, Sunday January 11th at 2:30 P.M. with UGA Chaplain Kevin Hynes and Rev. Thad Key presiding. Burial will follow in Chickamauga Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Chickamauga Music or Building Funds at P.O. Box 239, Chickamauga, GA 30707 or to the Friends of the Chickamauga Public Library at 306 Cove Road, Chickamauga, GA 30707. Pallbearers are Charlie Berry, Jimmy Cooley, Gary Gossett, Ken Jones, Harry Kythas, John McCollum, Jeff McDaniel, Alan Najjar, Ken Pilgrim, and Glen Trundle. Honorary Pallbearers are the Seminar Sunday School Class of First Baptist and the Hutcheson Hospital Auxiliary. A special "Thank You" goes to Olive's team of life enhancing and life extending caregivers: Amanda, Maudie, Davina, Carrie, Lori and Corina. Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Homes – J. Avery Bryan Chapel, Chickamauga, GA. Online register at www.wilsonfuneralhome.com

Olive Lynette Wright

July 21, 1926 - January 3, 2015