Rev. William M. Wrighten, of Moncks Corner, son of the late Sylvia McKnight Wallace and William and Mary Wrighten, was born on December 20, 1969 and raised in St. Stephen, South Carolina.
He received his education in the Berkeley County School District and graduated from St. Stephen High School in 1987. He matriculated and graduated in 1991 from South Carolina State University, where he was a proud student-athlete. He later went on to earn a Master’s degree from The Citadel, and a Master of Divinity degree from Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, NC.
William worked in the public schools of South Carolina for over 20 years impacting the lives of countless students as a teacher, coach, and mentor at St. Stephen, Lincoln, C.E. Murray, Manning and Cross High schools. He furthered his passion for teaching at Trident Technical College (TTC) when he joined the History Department as a professor in 2007. While at TTC, he became the Director of Mentoring and the African American Male Leadership Institute (AAMLI). His students will remember his wit, the life lessons taught, and how much he valued pouring into others, while encouraging them to be the best versions of themselves possible.
Wherever William went, laughter and joy were sure to follow. The love for his wife and daughters shone through in all he did. Throughout his life, William enjoyed travelling with his family, playing golf and watching the SC State Bulldogs play on Saturdays in Orangeburg. He was a Lifetime Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and active in the Moncks Corner Alumni Chapter. William truly had a heart for service and supported many civic causes in his community.
At an early age, William accepted Jesus Christ into his life and became an active member at Zion (now New Light) United Methodist Church in St. Stephen, SC. He served as a Junior Usher and in other capacities of the church. In 2011, William answered the call and became a local pastor at Washington United Methodist Church in Charleston, SC. He became ordained as an Elder in the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2018. After 11 years of serving Washington’s congregation, Rev. Wrighten was appointed to the St. George Parish (St. Mark and Trinity UMCs) in June of 2021. His most famous quote that he left many of his parishioners with was: “God loves you, so do I and there’s nothing you can do about it!” While his anointed words touched many hearts and souls locally, Rev. Wrighten was also strategic in ensuring he spread both light and the gospel to all he encountered through daily scriptures and inspirational messages.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Sylvia McKnight Wallace, his maternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McKnight, his paternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Wrighten and sister Mrs. Kim Mitchell-Jones.
William’s memory will be treasured by the love of his life, Karen Cooper Wrighten, loving children, Wynton Tyler, Kailyn Briana and Willow MacKenzie, all of Moncks Corner, SC; brother Joseph Wallace II (Jeanna) of Moncks Corner, SC; sister Shanitra Walker (Clint) of Columbia, SC; mother-in-law Geraldine K. Cooper of Sumter, SC; 2 brother-in-laws Kevin Jones of Columbia, SC and Wayne Cooper (Yuko) of Auburn, GA; 3 sister-in-laws Zelda Cooper of Charlotte, NC, Adrienne Smith of Charlotte, NC and Nicole Cooper of New Orleans, LA; and a host of loving aunts, uncles, relatives and friends.
Viewing will be held Wednesday September 7, 2022 at Scott’s Mortuary Chapel 5PM-7P.M. Face masks are required. Funeral service will be held Thursday, September 8, 2022, 10:00 a.m., at Bethany United Methodist Church 118 W 3rd S. St. Summerville, South Carolina, 29483.
NO VIEWING AFTER SERVICES.
Interment will be at Tri- Church cemetery in St. Stephen, SC
The service will be live streamed on the funeral home’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/scottsmortuary.com
All arrangements and professional services have been entrusted to SCOTT’S MORTUARY, INC.
Posted in: Scott’s Mortuary
Posted on: 2022-09-06
Link to original obituary: https://www.scottsmortuaryonline.com/obituary/rev-william-wrighten