By Dr. Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
Funeral services for veteran journalist James L. Wright Jr. will be held Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Wright, who died of natural causes at his home in Seat Pleasant, Md. will be memorialized locally at the Hemingway Memorial AME Church in District Heights, Md.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. with services starting promptly at 11a.m. Wright will be interred in Texas, his home state, in Austin.
The resolute and focused political and public affairs reporter wrote for AFRO News for many years. He served as city editor and represented the publication on the international stage on multiple occasions. At the time of his death, Wright worked as business and political writer for the Washington Informer.
Mayor of Seat Pleasant, Md., Kelly Porter, spoke about Wright’s service in the community he called home.
“Wright was a man of integrity, compassion and service. His leadership enriched our city. His legacy will remain in the heart of Seat Pleasant for generations to come,” she said.
Wright served on Seat Pleasant’s city council from October 2022 through October 2024. During his tenure he also served as Vice Chair of the Citizens Police Advisory Board (CPAC) actively supporting the city’s police and fostering stronger community-police relations.
Wright was also president of the Seat Pleasant Citizens Association, contributed to the Seat Pleasant/University of Maryland Health Partnership and participated in the 202 Coalition led by State Senator Joanne Benson.
A graduate of Prairie View A&M University, through the years, Wright proved to be a committed leader and supporter of the faith community. He was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. with decades of service to his name.
Wright worshipped at Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. where he served as church historian.
“James put in many hours serving as chair of Asbury’s Archives and History Committee,” said Asbury UMC Stephen Minister Tawana Jackson. “He organized his fraternity to serve breakfast at our Neighbor 2 Neighbor breakfasts every Sunday. He was truly a ‘Methodist Man.’”