Lottie Mae Wright

Lottie Mae Thomas Wright Lottie Mae Thomas Wright was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas on October 10, 1920, to Rev. Willie James Thomas and Linnie Elias Thomas. She was called to her Heavenly home on December 28, 2022, passing peacefully in her sleep at the home of her son Jeff in Montgomery, Alabama. One of eleven children born to the Thomas family, Lottie married her Jonesboro childhood friend and neighbor Alvin Wright, and they moved to Washington, DC in 1948 with their 6-year old son, Alvin Wright, Jr. In Washington, Lottie had six more sons: Rick, Jonathan, Peter, Jeffrey, James, and Charles. At the same time she and her devoted husband Al were managing their large household, Lottie continued the education she began at Arkansas State University by completing her Bachelor of Science degree at American University. She then attended Catholic University’s graduate school and earned her master’s degree in Library Science. Lottie went on to have an exemplary career in the Washington, DC public library system. She was librarian at Fort Davis Branch Library (now Frances Gregory Library), Northeast Branch Library, Mount Pleasant Library, and headed the Sociology Division at Central Library (now the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Central Library). Lottie subsequently became Director and Archivist at the Carnegie Library, which held the archives for Federal City College, now the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). She also was professor of library science at UDC and an active member of the American Library Association and Black Caucus American Library Association. Lottie’s twenty plus year career in public and university libraries was complemented by her commitment and passion for children’s literacy. For many years she served as Vice President of DC Reading is Fundamental, an organization dedicated to inspiring in all children the same passion for reading she inspired in her own seven sons. Lottie’s dedication to community service and her spirituality extended beyond her devotion to her family and her career as a librarian. She was exceptionally active and deeply involved in her church communities, first at Lane Memorial CME church on Capital Hill and later at Albright Memorial United Methodist Church in Northwest Washington. She filled numerous leadership roles in both congregations and supported the national ministry activities of both churches. Her commitment of service to her church, her career, and her community as a leader, organizer, volunteer, counselor, and friend to countless families and individuals during her life of service is an inspirational legacy to be thankful for and to emulate. But for the infinite wisdom and grace of God, Lottie’s well-lived life could have been short-lived. In 1928 when she was an 8-year old little girl, she was run over by a train while playing near the tracks in Jonesboro. Amazingly, she survived this unimaginable accident in which she lost her left hand much of her left arm, and her left foot and much of her left leg as well. She completely overcame these incredible injuries, grew up with her siblings and peers successfully into adulthood in an astonishingly normal way, and never thought of herself as “handicapped” or “disabled.” And neither did her family or her friends view her that way because she was as fulsome and vibrant and whole in function and spirit as any of them. She refused to interrupt her desire and goal to achieve a full and satisfying life despite that horrible event or any other of life’s big or small challenges. Her life should remind us all that “disability” need not mean “inability.” She embraced love, marriage, motherhood, academic achievement, leadership, success, outreach, and friendship as natural consequences of her Christian faith and her God-given abilities. The doors to her heart and life were always open to others and, along with her husband of 52 years, she supported the lives and efforts of her sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren, as well as the families of friends and others. All ate at the table of Lottie and Al and shared their home. All received the wisdom of her advice and counsel and, she kept them all in her unceasing prayers. Lottie is survived by her sister Eva Mae Thomas, her seven sons named above, and their wives Aretha (Alvin), Janet (Jon), Lakita (Jeff), Gwen (James), and Benetta A. Chisholm-Wright (Charles). She was loved and will be missed by her 11 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and two great, great grandchildren. Lottie also was matriarch of an extended family of nieces, and nephews, and was loved dearly and will be missed by numerous friends, neighbors, and former coworkers. The family requests that instead of flowers donations be made in Lottie’s honor to Reading is Fundamental at the following link: https://secure.rif.org/page/19541/donate/1 To donate by mail please send a check made payable to Reading Is Fundamental to 750 First Street NE, Ste. 920, Washington, DC 20002 Attn: Development Department

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Lottie Mae Wright

October 10, 1920 - December 28, 2022