On February 15, 2026, a group of their friends and those impacted by their service celebrated Jim and Marty Wright at Schewel Hall at the University of Lynchburg. All proceeds benefitted the Free Clinic of Central Virginia.
Jim Wright
A Lynchburg native, Dr. Jim Wright has dedicated his career and service to the well-being of his hometown. After completing both his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine degrees at the University of Virginia, he returned to Lynchburg to practice medicine and invest his time and leadership in the community he loves.
Dr. Wright has played meaningful roles across a broad range of civic organizations. He has chaired the boards of the Lynchburg Family Medicine Residency Program, the Free Clinic of Central Virginia, Medshelp, the Lynchburg chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, and the Lynchburg Academy of Medicine, and he has served on the boards of the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association (Lynchburg Chapter), the Gateway, and the Lynchburg chapter of Planned Parenthood. He is currently president of the board of trustees of the Academy Center of the Arts and enjoys being a docent of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.
Alongside his wife Marty and Molly and John McClenon, he co-chaired the Greater Lynchburg Coalition for Fairness, a 2006 community initiative opposing the proposed amendment to the Virginia constitution that sought to prohibit same-sex marriage — work that reflects his deeply held belief in fairness and equality for all Lynchburg residents.
Through decades of volunteerism, board leadership, and advocacy, Dr. Wright has made lasting contributions to the people and institutions of Lynchburg, strengthening community health, equity, and culture.
Marty Wright
The daughter of a U.S. Air Force officer, Marty Brink Wright spent her teenage years in Colorado Springs before earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from William Woods College. Since making Lynchburg her permanent home, she has become an exemplary civic leader and volunteer, committed to advancing education, the arts, environmental stewardship, and community life.
Marty has dedicated many years of service to organizations — often serving as treasurer. These include the Centra Neurodevelopmental Clinic, Lynchburg Beacon of Hope, Old City Cemetery Board, and Lynchburg Tree Stewards. She has also served on the boards of the Friends of the Lynchburg Public Library, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg Community Concert Association, Lynchburg Symphony Youth Orchestra, and volunteered at the Rivermont Area Emergency Food Pantry for decades.
Together with her husband Jim and Molly and John McClenon, she co-chaired the Greater Lynchburg Coalition for Fairness in 2006, rallying community support against a constitutional amendment seeking to prohibit same-sex marriage — a cause that still resonates deeply with her values of fairness, dignity, and inclusion.
Through her enduring leadership, volunteerism, and passion for community improvement, Marty Wright has helped to build and sustain a more vibrant, equitable, and welcoming Lynchburg.
This event is organized by the Planning Committee:
Christina Delzingaro
Kathe and Ron Feinman
Megan Huffman
Denise and Travis McDonald
Shannon and Mike Valentine
Beau Wright
Kathryn Crowder Yarzebinski
This event is proudly hosted by:
Laura and Scott Hengerer
Katy and Chal Nunn
The Schewel Charitable Foundation
Patty and Ken West
With support from additional friends:
Susan and Jim Ackley
Naomi Amos
Ilga and William Baker
Tracy and Albert Baker
Lori and Jarrett Banks
Mary Barney and David Neumeyer
Leigh and Brad Barth
Tina and Rick Barnes
Veronica and Clinton Beverly
Robin and Bill Blackman
Shannon Brennan and Michael Kelly
Terry and Bob Brennan
Betty and Tom Brickhouse
Derrick R. Brown
Cynde Buckles
Lee and Camp Burton
Bettye and Al Chambers
Connie and Stephen Crank
Shelby Crist
Rosemary and George Dawson
Ted Delaney
Georgia and Al Delbridge
Myra and Bob Dendy
Linda and Gerald Edlin
Glennie and Gene Erb
Margaret Anne and Cap Eschenroeder
Kathe and Ron Feinman
Polly and Bob Flint
Joan and Bobby Foster
Sarah and West Francus
Judy and David Frantz
Friends and Admirers of the Wrights
Frances Giles
Blake and Danny Givens
Jacquie Glanz and Eddie Wayland
Carol G. Grasso and Angela F. Lisella
Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation
Genny Harris
Maria and Lucas Hayden
Kathy and John Hoskins
Megan and Matt Huffman
Hylan T. Hubbard III
Jim's Friend
Mark Johnson and Tyler St. Clair
Melissa Wright Johnson
Teresa Julian, Owner, Rewind Pilates
Ashley and Geoffrey Kershner
Bill Kershner
Jeffrey D. Krantz
Barbara Susan Lafleur
Edie and Cham Light
Helen and Calvin Lundeen
Catherine and Mike Madden
Sabita Manian and Brad Bullock
Nancy B. Marion and Chuck Coole
Molly McClenon
Denise and Travis McDonald
Norman K. Moon
Chuck Morrison
Jessica and Alex Newmark
Dorothy and Dick Niles
Peggy and Bill Nolley
Mari Normyle and Michael Bremer
Pamela Nowell
Ellen and Tom Nygaard
Ginger and Ed Paris
Elaine and Corey Passman
Sara Lissa Paulson
Leslie and Kimball Payne
Dorothy and Clifton Potter
Christine and Gus Petticolas
Moira Rafferty and Robert Bass
Alyson M. Ramsey
Bill Ramsey
Maria and Dennis Roberts
Francy Rubin and Tom Brown
Paula Ryan and Paul Feinman
Nina Salmon
Marycatherine and Gary Savage
Nancy and Bill Schneider
Verna and Preston Sellers
Jan and Julius Sigler
Lynn Shapiro
Carolyn and Gerard F. Sherayko
Robert Shorter and David Levy
Kelly and John Shuptrine
Jeanell and Randy Smith
Meg and Stephen Smith
Amanda and Scott Stanley
Ellen and Joe Stinnett
Shelley and John Stone
Laura-Gray Street and Jay Kardan
Sallie and Walker Sydnor
Brenda Tanner and Russell James
Sue and Andy Tatom
Mary and Robert Taylor
Mary Frances and Tom Tiller
MaryJane Tousignant-Dolan
Emma Trachman
Karin and David Truitte
Denise Tuttle
Shannon and Mike Valentine
Catherine Varner and Curt Baker
Margi and Rob Vaughn
Sallie and Mike Voth
Liz and Scott Wade
Kenneth S. White
Annie Harris Massie Winstead and
Alexander Winstead
Patty and Charles Worsham
Adam Wright
Andrea C. Wright
Hope Wright
Kathryn Crowder Yarzebinski
Nancy Young
Liz and Jesse Zellner
Special thanks to:
Cottage Garden Club for our beautiful floral arrangements
Piedmont Jazz Trio for the night’s music
University of Lynchburg
Jill Waugh, photographer
