JoAnn Wright

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of a Matriarch

JoAnn Wright, cherished daughter of Frank Myers Jr. and Thelma Gossett, passed into glory on July 1, 2025, in Longview, Texas. A proud resident of Jefferson, Texas, JoAnn was born on August 17, 1943, in San Francisco, California. She carried a mantle of wisdom, elegance, and divine purpose that has touched four generations.

A Trailblazer, a Builder, a Woman of God

A woman ahead of her time, JoAnn served the County of Los Angeles in leadership roles within Patient Financial Services, breaking barriers for African American women in public administration. She retired from Los Angeles County as the Assistant Director of Patient Financial Services at Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, CA. She was a landowner, a decision-maker, and a quiet force whose life exemplified perseverance and determination.

On July 29, 1962, she married her lifelong companion, Billie Roy Wright Sr. Together, they built a home grounded in faith, dignity, and service, impacting lives in both the Los Angeles County and Marion County regions. Later, her husband, Rev. Billie R. Wright, Sr., became Associate Pastor of Judea Missionary Baptist Church, and together they served God’s Kingdom faithfully and fervently. As a Deaconess and active member of the Women’s Missionary Board, JoAnn, ministered with grace and compassion, extending her legacy beyond the pews and into the hearts of many.

Additionally, JoAnn raised her children with excellence, worked with integrity, and lived on her own terms. She was a praying woman, a provider, and a keeper of the house leaving a powerful example for those who follow. As Proverbs 31 declares, “Her children arise and call her blessed,” and indeed, JoAnn’s family stands as a living testimony to her love, wisdom, and unwavering faith.

Family Lineage

JoAnn is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Franchesca. She is survived by:

Her devoted husband of 63 years, Billie Roy Wright Sr.; Her children: Billie Roy Jr., Angela, Andrea, and Brian (Tanya); Her siblings: Frank (Kathy) and Frederica (Cornelius); Her uncle: Robert (Jane); Grandchildren: Corey, Briana, Autumn, Erin, Tajei’ (Andy) and Brian Jr.; Great Grandchildren: Jayson, Troy, and Yahsiah; A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, close friends, and colleagues who cherish her memory and continue the legacy of excellence, faith, and love she so powerfully lived.

Her presence carried weight in both the natural and spiritual realms, and she will be truly missed.