AMERICUS — Dr. Jones Thomas “Tommy” Wright, age 65, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at his home in Americus.

Funeral services are planned for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3, in the chapel of Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., with Dr. Sam Harper and the Rev. Brooks Partain officiating.  Burial will follow 3:30 p.m. in Harris City Cemetery in Greenville, Ga.

The family will receive friends between the hours of noon and 1 p.m. on Sunday at Hancock Funeral Home.

Born Sept. 20, 1952, in Donaldsonville, Ga., he was a son of the late Jones Thomas Wright and the late Hazel Christine Wright.

During his younger years, he was a star kicker and a track star at Thomasville High School. He graduated from Emory University with a doctoral in genetics, then worked for the Department of Agriculture in Athens. He was a professor of biology at Georgia Southwestern State University for more than 20 years, during which time he was a beloved professor who touched countless lives. He had written more than 500 letters of recommendation for his students going into various forms of higher education, and was the author of several scientific publications in the field of biology and genetics. Dr. Wright was a devoted family man who enjoyed fishing and dearly loved his little dog Tucker.

Survivors include his wife, Deborah Meacham Wright of Americus; children: John Wright (Jordan) of Smyrna, Stephanie Wright Monroe (Johnny) of Charleston, S.C., and Thomas Speigner of Thomasville; mother-in-law, Doris Meacham Rowe of Columbus; three sisters: Barbara Ann Hill, Lynda Gail Wornstaff, and Agnes Christine Deters; three granddaughters: Emma, Ayden, and Launa; and several nieces and nephews.

For those wishing to do so, memorial contributions may be made to The Cancer Treatment Center of America, 600 Celebrate Life Pkwy, Newnan, GA 30265.

To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com

Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements for Dr. Jones Thomas “Tommy” Wright.