Damon “Craig” Wright was born on February 26, 1960, to Ray and Wynneska Wright in Sheffield, Alabama where he was a member of his high school basketball team, the Sheffield Bulldogs until he graduated in 1978. He then went on to attend the University of North Alabama in Florence where he graduated in 1983 with a degree in marketing.
Craig married his high school sweetheart, Tina, twice for a total of 39 years in which their family nearly tripled in size with the birth of two sons, the addition of a daughter-in-love, two grandkids and a third grandchild on the way. Craig spent each day of his life loving and providing for them.
Craig joined the United States Navy in 1989, was a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, and served for six years including being stationed in London, England from 1992-1995. He worked for Raytheon for 27 years and retired as an IT Manager in May of 2025. Craig courageously battled and fought cancer on and off for 10 years, beating it both times. He always kept his eyes focused on Jesus and “living looking up” even during the darkest days. He was a long-time member of Whitesburg Baptist Church where he loved singing in the choir, worshiping with great friends, and serving as a member of the Gideons International organization.
Craig loved watching sports, especially his Alabama Crimson Tide, even if they might have caused him more frustration than the cancer at times. He was ridiculously funny, quick-witted, and full of facts and trivia about any range of topics that he could pull out at the drop of a hat. Craig enjoyed watching silly action movies and strange comedies. He loved music including artists like Van Morrison, Boz Scaggs and so many others. When listening to the radio he would pop-quiz whoever was riding with him about whatever song was playing to see if they knew that it was the band America singing “Horse With No Name” or Jim Croce asking for “Time in a Bottle”.
Craig Wright passed away unexpectedly just after midnight on December 13, 2025, surrounded by family and friends who were selfishly begging him to stick around to share more love, tell more jokes, create new memories, and save more time in a bottle. However, that was not in God’s plan as He called Craig home to be with him in those early morning hours. His family is thankful that Craig knew without any doubt where he would be when he rested his eyes for the last time.
Craig is survived by his wife Tina; sons, Alex and Austin; daughter-in-law, Amanda, grandsons, Carson and Maddux; brother, Chuck; sisters, Christy and Cara Leigh; multiple nieces, nephews, and a continuously growing family that he loved with all of his heart. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Cory.
A celebration of Craig’s life will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, with a visitation from 12:00-1:30 p.m. and a funeral service to follow at Whitesburg Baptist Church’s South Campus. Burial with military honors will follow at 3 p.m. at Flint River Cemetery, 8519 Moores Mill Road, Meridianville, AL 35759.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Gideons International Organization or the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering through Whitesburg Baptist Church (https://whitesburgbaptist.org/give/).
