Emily Byington Wright

Emily Byington Wright

August 20, 1028 - June 14, 2026

Sequatchie, Tennessee

Emily Byington Wright was born on August 20, 1928, in Chattanooga, TN to Warren Hunter Byington and Rose Giddings Byington. She died peacefully on June 14, 2026, in her home in Sequatchie, Tennessee surrounded by family.

Emily grew up on the hill in St. Elmo. She was a graduate of the Girls Preparatory School (GPS), and later graduated from Harcum Junior College with a degree in music. She attended the University of Chattanooga where she played on the tennis team and graduated with a degree in physical education. After college Emily worked briefly as the teen director at the YWCA.

Emily met her husband Jim while singing in the choir at Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church in St. Elmo. They were married for 72 years until Jim died in March of this year. Emily and Jim raised 4 children together. She was devoted to her family.

Emily was known for her competitive spirit and love of games, whether it was badminton, tennis, horseshoes, croquet, softball, sledding or scrabble. Emily had a strong and enduring sense of adventure that led her down countless dirt roads and landed her ultimately at what has now become the Sequatchie Cove Farm.

Emily was a naturalist in the deepest sense of the word. She was an avid bird watcher and wildflower enthusiast. She loved vegetable gardening, picking blackberries, baking blackberry pies for her family, stalking wild grapes, making jam and hunting arrowheads.

Throughout her life, Emily was committed to serving her community. She volunteered at St. Barnabas Nursing Home, was on the Board of Directors at Reflection Riding and taught students at The Nature Center. She was also very active in the work of the Louise Currey Opportunity Home for Girls. She served on the alter guild at Thankful Memorial in Chattanooga and at Christ Church in South Pittsburg, TN. She visited the home bound and volunteered at the food bank in Sequatchie until she gave up driving. Emily was an active member of the D.A.R.

Emily was predeceased by her husband, James Oliver Berry Wright (Jim) and her brother, Hunter Byington.

Emily is survived by her children Rose Bradford (Bill), Miriam Keener (Bill), Oliver Wright (Ann), Louise Wright (Olivier Landa), her grandchildren Brad Bradford (Mandy), Emily Bradford (Shane Stone), Douglas Bradford (Chastity), Katherine Kerns (Morgan), Ann Keener (Mike Mayo), Kelsey Keener (Ashley), Elizabeth Wright, Andrew Wright, Max Landa, Conrad Landa, Asher Landa, and her great grandchildren Olivia Bradford, Madelynn Bradford, Sonora Kerns, Sawyer Kerns, Gregory Bradford, Fletcher Keener, Oliver Keener and Ella Mae Keener.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Marion County Community Ministries (food bank in Sequatchie, TN) would be appreciated.

The Memorial Service will be held on July 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Central time at Christ Church Episcopal in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.

Arrangements are entrusted to Rogers Funeral Home, 400 Laurel Avenue, South Pittsburg, Tennessee 37380, (423) 837-7176.