Member Highlights

Frances Helen Faulk Wright

Frances Helen Faulk Wright

Frances Wright was born Frances Helen Faulk to the Rev. John E. and Frances B. Faulk (deceased) on August 24, 1936. My early childhood years were spent in Hopkins, South Carolina, where my mother's family resided. After the death of my grandmother, Mrs. Anna Brown, my family moved to Columbia when I was seven years old.

During the time that we lived in Hopkins, I attended Tom's Creek Elementary School, matriculating from the first through third grade. My parents enrolled me in Sarah Nance Elementary School in the Booker Washington Heights neighborhood, where I completed grades fourth through seventh. Afterwards, I transferred to C.A. Johnson High School and graduated in 1954. After my high school graduation, I enrolled in Benedict College and studied there for two and a half years.

On September 19, 1955, I married my sweetheart, Willie Wright. He served in the U.S. Army, and I traveled with him during his military assignments. They included Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Hood, Texas; and Fort Bragg, NC. I also traveled with him on his two overseas assignments to Germany - Frankfurt and later in Munich.

We were blessed with five children, who were born while Willie served in the military. They are Willie, Jr., Darrell Lewis, Charles Edward (deceased), and Gary; and one daughter: Donna Louise (deceased).

My husband returned home to Columbia and completed his military duties as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Jackson Army Post. During his assignment at Fort Jackson, I entered nursing school at the Baptist Hospital (now Prisma Health Baptist Hospital) and trained for one year to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. "I was blessed with the help of my husband and fellow classmates. I graduated in the top of my class, passing the South Carolina State Board of Nursing with a score of 460 (500 is the national score)."

After graduating, I worked at Richland Memorial Hospital (now Prisma Health Richland Hospital) and at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital. But my most rewarding job was at the Midlands Center for Mentally Ill Children. It was very rewarding to HELP those who could not help themselves. It was also very gratifying to know that I was able to handle some of the sights and situations that I encountered. It made me realize just how bless I was to have five healthy children. It was such a rewarding career."

"As for my home and church life, I am the eldest of my parents' five children. My parents held a strict rule of thumb. I have attended St. John Baptist Church since I was seven years old. I served in all youth activities - the Junior Missionary, Junior Choir, and the Sunshine Band. They were under the leadership of Mrs. Clara Davenport, Mrs. Isabelle Goodwin, and Mrs. Fannie Mae Jones. I also participated in Easter programs, Christmas programs and plays, Sunday School, and BTU. I provided the music for the Sunday School and I also served as the secretary for the Sunday School from 1988 to 2016." I have also served as the president the Senior Musical Choir, since 2007. Our choir has received several awards for our community service work rendered at the Tucker Nursing Home. I am a proud member of the Fannie Mae Jones Missionary Circle, and I have served as the president since 1988.

I also served as the musician at the Good Aim Baptist Church in Elgin for 21 years. The Rev. J.H. Robertson is the pastor.

I give honor to the late Rev. Roscoe C. Wilson, Sr. who baptize me and later performed my marriage ceremony with my husband, Willie Wright.

My parents believed in religious training, as well as home training - keeping good company and most of all, being obedient and respectful to others. The children of our neighborhood had one parent, everybody's mom. When things went wrong, no matter who or where - church or school, etc. there was community togetherness.

My favorite scripture is 27th Psalms. I am a dedicated Christian woman and I have committed my life to serving the Lord, the church and others.

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