Clinton Marie Wright
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Clinton Marie Wright was born November 2, 1929 to Ivy Ruth Smith and Carl Lee Deary. She began her education at Smithville Colored School and graduated from Temple High School at age sixteen. After graduating from high school she was enrolled at Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, TX where she earned a degree in Home Economics. After graduating she attended the University of Southern California as a doctoral candidate.
Mrs. Wright lived in Germany for several years where she learned the language. Upon returning to the United States she settled in Washington, DC where she began her Civil Service career with the Federal Government with OSHA and in the Department of Labor. After numerous promotions she advanced to Deputy Director of the Women's Bureau. She was very involved with the government while in DC and retired before returning to Smithville, Texas. Upon her return home she assisted her aging mother. Ivy Ruth Pendergrass and step father Thomas Pendergrass, Jr. in the management of their local business, Pendergrass-Peoples Mortuary, the oldest continuously owned Black business in Smithville and Bastrop County. She was a member of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church.
Upon the passing of her parents she became the Owner, Funeral Director in Charge and Licensed Embalmer of Pendergrass-Peoples Mortuary, She also inherited a very successful pre-need burial insurance business as well.
Mrs. Wright, a delightful, friendly and outgoing individual quickly became active in many areas of interest in the community. She was loved by all and was a great contributor to the local community and Bastrop County Democratic Party.
She was elected to the Smithville City Council in 1987 where she served faithfully as Mayor Pro Tem. As a highly regarded and respected member of the Smithville City Council. Mrs. Wright's fellow council members submitted her name as a candidate to serve on the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Board of Directors. In 1994 she resigned from he Smithville City Council to accept an appointment by Governor Ann Richards to the LCRA Board of Directors representing Bastrop County. For the next three years she was dedicated to working with the City of Smithville, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the LCRA in the development of the Riverbend Park on Highway 71 which is now named Vernon Richards Riverbend Park. Her term ended in 1997.
She continued to be active in the community and served on many boards, committees and civic organizations including the Smithville Noon Lions Club, Smithville Saving and Loan Board of Directors, Incorporator and Board of Directors for Cen-Tex Family Services (1992-2005) which reorganized and developed the Head Start Program in Bastrop, Fayette, Lee and Colorado Counties, Bastrop County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Board and was one of the founders in 1989 of the Bastrop County Martin Luther King Holiday Commission with Council Members Dock Jackson (Bastrop) and Gladys Ward (Elgin).
Mrs. Wright was preceded in death by her mother, Ivy Ruth Pendergrass, father Carl Lee Deary, step father Thomas Pendergrass, Jr. and a special cousin Isalee Peterson.
She leaves a host of relatives, friends and admirers to cherish her legacy and memory.
Funeral Services to be held Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church 300 Hudgins Street Smithville, Texas. Interment Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Smithville, Texas