Brooklyn Pastor Timothy Wright Dies At 61

Reverend Timothy Wright, pastor of Grace Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Brooklyn and Grammy-nominated gospel singer, passed away yesterday at age 61. Wright had been in the hospital since last July, when he was seriously injured in a car accident.

On July 4, Wright, his wife Betty, and his 14-year-old grandson D.J. were driving home on I-80 in Pennsylvania when a driver, driving the wrong way, crashed into them. His wife and grandson did not survive, nor did the other driver. Wright was in critical condition for a while and his family didn't immediately tell him of his wife's and grandson's death. By October, he was able to see supporters at an event, but he was in a wheelchair (he was paralyzed from the waist down) and on a respirator. He told WCBS 2, "I lost my wife, I lost my grandson, and for some reason, God left me here. So here I am." According to a letter posted on his MySpace page in February, his family and friends were happy that Wright had movement in his shoulders, neck and hands, but noted there were difficulties because of a recent set-back.

The AP reports that Wright "released more than a dozen gospel recordings, writing many of the songs." He was nominated for a best traditional soul gospel Grammy in 1994 for his record "Come Thou Almighty King," with the New York Fellowship Mass Choir" and in 1999 for "Been There Done That," which he recorded with the B/J Mass Choir. You can hear some of his music on his MySpace page.