Mr. Willie Lee "Uncle Bill"/"Spotty Bull" Wright

Mr. Willie Lee “Uncle Bill”/“Spotty Bull” Wright, age 81, went home to the Lord on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 when he passed away at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center with the love of his family by his side. Born in Faceville, Georgia on November 26, 1935, Willie Lee was the son of the late Homer Wright and Everlina Bouie. He was raised and educated in Georgia. Willie Lee was united in marriage to the former Mattie C. Mackey. He held a relationship with Joyce and from that union came the blessing of a son, Marvin. Joyce passed away in 2008. Previously, Willie Lee was employed by the Abelove Linen Service Company as a truck unloader and sheet machine feeder. Willie Lee was a strong man of God and prayer. He always encouraged people and talked to them about the Lord. He loved dedicating himself to almost every church and event in Utica along with his friends and congregation. He was a faithful member and deacon at the Free in Christ Pentecostal Church. He loved to sing with his churches’ bands and choirs. Some of his favorite songs were “I’m gonna run on to the end” “when I rose this morning” and various songs by Dixie and the Hummingbirds and the Might Clouds of Joy Gospel Group. While his stay in the Katherine Luther Home, Willie loved to sing “This little light of mine” and play the song on his harmonica for his friends. He would be funny, always calling the harmonica his harp, “bring me my harp he would say.” Willie always made a presence in the community when he took morning and afternoon walks with friends who cherished him as a brother, especially with Rev. George Patterson and Ms. Frankie Walton. They almost couldn’t go a day without their McDonald’s coffee. Willie was the probably the fastest walker you’ve ever known. If you called him for pickup, he just might be at your house before you could walk out the door. He sure knew his way around the kitchen where he cooked up neck bones, turkey, the best gravy, rice and beans. Willie enjoyed being the handy man who always found the strangest ways to fix something especially when he worked with his favorite cousin, the late King Stenson. He was lovingly bestowed many beautiful nicknames by family and friends, including “Spotty Bull”, “Deacon Wright” “The Bishop,” “Brother Bull”, “Uncle Bill or Bull”, “Rin tin tin”, “Dip”, “Slim” “Daddy Long Legs”, and “Willie Schwepp” since he was crazy about his ginger ale. He was a very sharp dresser and he would find a way to make any suit, hat, and its color work, and match. He had a new style every week when he attended churches and spent time suit shopping out of town with his cousin the late John Davis. People sure could depend on him. If you called “Uncle Bill” on the phone with a problem he had an answer for everything, even if it didn’t make much sense. But “that joker”, as he used to say, could get you to laugh and make your day brighter. Willie was mostly known for his love and care for people who knew him. Willie Lee always had a smile and laughed even in moments of pain and sickness. He was well loved and appreciated by his rehabilitation team and nurses during his time at the Lutheran Care Home. A few of Willie’s last words before going home to the Lord were, “Sometimes, you feel better than you look and sometimes you look better than you feel, but I feel wonderful and my spirit is alright.” His favorite quote was “I’m holding on”. Willie will always be known as a man who held a great life, had a beautiful heart, smile, and a wonderful spirit. Willie Lee is survived by his wife, Mattie; his daughters, Deborah Jean Peoples of Tennessee, and Kim Wright of Florida. He cherished the memory of his eldest son, Bobby Wright, who preceded him in death. He leaves behind his sons, Herman Wright of Florida, and Marvin Lee Wright of Utica; several grandchildren, one cherished great-grandchild; his sister, Lillie Mae Holmes-Height of Utica; his brother and sister-in-law, Jerry D. and Bulah Wright of Florida; a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, in-laws, and his friend, Rev. George Patterson. He was predeceased by his sisters and brothers-in-law, Lillian E. and Lawrence Atkins, and Mildred and James Mills; his brother, Leroy Bouie; his nephews, Willie E. Bowen, Donald Durant Holmes, Lee Edward, and Dennis James Bowen, Sr.; his in-laws, Warren E. Holmes, Sr., and Thomas Height; and his cousin, John Davis, who he loved as a brother. A special thanks to the Visiting Nurse Association, Dr. Oleg Dulkin, Utica College Young Scholars Staff, his special friends, Auginette Brown, Don Rice, the Patterson family members and the Katherine Luther Home Rehabilitation staff, nurses; and a few friends of his son, Marvin. Visitation will be held Saturday, February 25th, from 10:00-12:00 noon at the House of God Church, 1304 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13501. Willie Lee’s Home Going and Celebration of Life will be held at 12:00 noon at the church with Rev. Charles March officiating the ceremony. Interment will take place in New Forest Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Mr. Willie Lee "Uncle Bill"/"Spotty Bull" Wright

November 26, 1935 - February 14, 2017