While the pastor remains in critical condition at a Pennsylvania hospital, a funeral was held for Betty Wright and grandson Daniel "D.J." Wright at the Washington Temple Church of God in Christ in Bedford-Stuyvesant. During the service, a 120-strong choir performed Rev. Wright's song, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus."
The Rev. Al Sharpton and bishops from across the U.S. were among the mourners in attendance, reports Newsday. "You won't have to make excuses for Betty, you won't have to make excuses for D.J.," Sharpton told the applauding congregation. "We're not at a crack funeral."
Betty Wright and her grandson died after their car was hit head-on the night of July 4 by a vehicle going the wrong way on eastbound Interstate 80. That driver also died. Timothy Wright, founding pastor of Grace Tabernacle Christian Center Church of God in Christ in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and who lives in Roosevelt, was critically injured in the crash.
Pastor fights to recover as wife & grandson mournedMonday, July 28th 2008, 12:36 AM
Family, friends and congregants celebrated the life of the Rev. Betty Wright and her grandson Sunday as her husband, the Brooklyn pastor known as the "Godfather of Gospel," struggled to recover from the crash that killed them.
"It's a double whammy for us because my father is still in the hospital and we have to be strong for him," said Donny Wright, son of the Grammy-nominated Rev. Timothy Wright.
Grace Tabernacle Christian Center in Crown Heights, the church Wright founded, was packed for the viewing of Betty Wright, 58, and 14-year-old D.J. Wright, who were killed July 4.
"We have to celebrate her life," Donny Wright said. "She didn't live a life of being sorry. She lived a life of praising God."
All five of the Wrights' sons were there: Danny, David, Derrick, Dwayne and Donny. A funeral will be held today at 10 a.m. at Washington Temple Church of God in Christ, 1372 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn.
Adrienne McCleod, 19, said Betty Wright was "like my second mother." "I'm thanking the Lord it's two funerals - it could have been three," she said.
Timothy Wright, 61, remains in critical condition at a Pennsylvania hospital.
The Wrights were returning from a religious convention in Detroit when their car was hit head-on by a car driving the wrong way on Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania. The wrong-way driver also died.
D.J. had just graduated from the eighth grade at Roosevelt Middle School. The road trip with his grandparents - his first time away from his parents - was a graduation gift.
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