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Gospel singer Timothy Wright 'holding on,' family says

By JENNIFER BARRIOS | jennifer.barrios@newsday.com

8:48 PM EDT, July 7, 2008

The Rev. Timothy Wright and his wife, Betty, during a tribute to Wright for his 40 years of service in the gospel music industry at the Zion Cathedral Church of God in Christ in Freeport. (Newsday Photo, 2006 / George Tsourovakas / July 5, 2008)

A popular gospel singer from Roosevelt is slowly recovering from the car crash that injured him and killed his wife and grandson.

While the Rev. Timothy Wright, pastor of Grace Tabernacle Christian Center Church of God in Christ in Brooklyn, knows his grandson has died, he has not yet been told the fate of his wife and co-pastor, Betty Wright.

"He's holding on," said his son David Wright. The pastor suffered extensive injuries, including a broken jaw. "He's conscious. He can't talk, but he can nod his head."

Wright remained in critical condition yesterday at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa.

Another of the pastor's five sons Danny Wright -- whose own 14-year-old son D.J. died in the crash -- said his father has been asking for his wife. The family has pledged to wait to break the news until Wright is physically stronger.

The Wrights were returning from a religious convention in Detroit late on July 4 when their car was struck head-on by another car driving the wrong way on Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania.

D.J., who died from his injuries on Saturday night, had just graduated eighth grade from Roosevelt Middle School. He loved cooking and the Power Rangers, and he wanted to be a gospel singer like his grandfather.

"He was a perfect kid," said his mother, Lori Wright, before dissolving into tears. "Not an ounce of trouble. He loved gospel music, he loved all types of music. You couldn't ask for the more perfect child."

The trip to Detroit with his grandparents was a special graduation present for D.J., one of the couple's three sons, Danny Wright said.

"I never really let them away from us, but he wanted to go," Danny Wright said. He said he spoke to his son every day during the trip, and had just talked with him hours before the crash.

The next time he saw D.J., "he looked like himself, like he was just sleeping," Wright said. "He probably didn't even know what happened."