Viola Wright Gentry

Viola Wright Gentry transitioned from this life to a life with Christ after a 24-year battle with five different cancers on May 20, 2012 in St. Louis, Mo. She was born in Moscow, Ark. on June 28, 1942 to Jesse Wright Sr. and Virginia Williams Wright. She was one of 10 children. Her parents, siblings: Zelpherine (Zip) Battle, Alma Jean Williams, Lee Autry Wright, John Henry Wright, Isaac Allmon Jr. and Naomi Wallace all preceded her in death. Reverend Viola Gentry, ordained in 1988, accepted Christ at Emanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock (Rev Dyer), and in 1966 united with St. Mark Baptist Church at 31st and Ringo (Rev. Oliver).She co-pastored the New Ebenezer Baptist Church in St. Louis. Viola attended Carver, Dunbar, and graduated from Horace Mann in 1960. Her spirit was soft and gentle as the wind. Viola is survived by her husband of 51 years, Bishop Richard Gentry; her children, Geleeta Poe, Richard Jr., Joy Wright (Earl), and Lorraine Lewis; and her siblings, Veodis Allmon (Erma) and Katherine Wright Knight of Little Rock, Jesse James Wright (Beverly) of Blue Springs, Mo.; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.