Ouachita Stories

Margaret Wright, a longtime faculty member at Ouachita Baptist University, died March 6 at age 70 following a 10-year battle with cancer.

“Margaret Wright embodied the best of Ouachita,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “Her professionalism, commitment to students and devotion to Ouachita was exemplary.

“It is commonplace to hear people today speak of the impact Margaret continues to have on their personal and professional life no matter how many years have passed,” Dr. Horne added. “Our prayers are of gratitude for Margaret and for comfort for our friend, Charles, and their daughter, Kimberly.”

During her lengthy illness, Mrs. Wright “demonstrated her indomitable strength and courage as a role model, and became an inspiration to many who also suffered with cancer,” according to family members.

A 1967 honors graduate, Mrs. Wright graduated from Ouachita with a major in accounting and a minor in economics. A certified public accountant, she earned her graduate degree from North Texas State University.

During her 36 years of service at Ouachita, Mrs. Wright served as chair of the Department of Accounting, chair of the Division of Business and Economics and director of corporate and foundation programs. She also was instrumental in helping establish the Frank D. Hickingbotham School of Business.

Upon her retirement in 2004, the Ouachita Board of Trustees honored her as professor emerita of accounting. She and her husband, Dr. Charles Wright, professor emeritus of music and former dean of Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts, moved to Little Rock following their retirement.

Among many honors she received, friends and former students donated financial gifts to establish the Margaret Wright Chair of Accounting at Ouachita. Additionally, the Business Executive Advisory Board for the Hickingbotham School of Business elected her as a lifetime member in 2010. The following year, she was honored by Ouachita as the guest of honor at the university’s annual Stepping Up for Ouachita luncheon.

During the luncheon, Mrs. Wright said, “To be recognized by my alma mater as well as my former employer in such a beautiful way is indeed very special, and I thank you so much.”

Addressing her former students, she added, “What a thrill to see you. … I hope you know that you are truly, truly the reward of being a teacher, and I love each one of you very much.”

Mrs. Wright was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia for 44 years, serving as a Sunday School teacher and finance committee member. For the past five years, she was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock.

In addition to Dr. Wright, her husband of 51 years, Mrs. Wright is survived by their daughter, Kimberly, and her husband, Mark Lawrence, as well as her mother, sister and two brothers.

A memorial service was held Saturday, March 9, at First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia. To view a video provided by First Baptist Church of the memorial service, visit our Vimeo page. The family has requested that memorial gifts be given to the Margaret Woodfield Wright Scholarship Fund, Ouachita Baptist University, Box 3754, Arkadelphia, AR 71998.

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications