Thomas “Tom” Gordon Wright, 82, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Monday, April 21, 2025, at Regency Hospital in Macon, Georgia.
Memorial services will be held 11 AM, Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Pine Level Lodge #353 F.&A.M., 533 Irwinville Highway, Fitzgerald, Georgia, with the Rev. Sammy Smith officiating. Masonic Rites will be rendered. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Rogers, Tony Morris, Ricky Hortman, Bill Willingham and Dr. Tom Green.
Mr. Wright was born August 22, 1942, in Miami Florida, to the late Thomas Howard and Thelma Taylor Wright. Mr. Wright served his country honorably in the United States Air Force. He moved to Fitzgerald and retired from Deep South as a logistics manager. He was very involved in Masonry as a member of Pine Level Lodge #353, Mableton Lodge #171, Scottish Rite, Hasan Shrine, and the Royal Order of the Jesters. At Hasan, he was named Ambassador Emeritus and served as Chief Executive Aide for Potentate Willingham in 2014, Potentate Morris in 2015, and Potentate Hortman in 2019. He served as Chairman of the Hospital Transportation Committee for many years and logged over 400,000 miles transporting children and their families to Shriners’ Hospitals in Tampa, Galveston and Cincinnati. Potentate Brad Hurst honored him by naming the Spring 2021 ceremonial in his honor. An active member of the Ben Hill Shrine Club, “Hillbilly Tom” will perhaps be best remembered for driving the Ben Hillbilly truck countless miles across the southeastern United States, bringing smiles to thousands of people. He truly embodied the Shriner’s motto of “Having Fun and Helping Kids”.
Mr. Wright is survived by a son, Todd Wright & Kathleen of Statesboro; a daughter, Leigh Wright of Georgia; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Patsy Wright of Miami, Florida; a niece, Deborah Kight; and a dear friend, Betty McNally of Fitzgerald.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.