Yoshiko Shimizu Wright

Mrs. Yoshiko Shimizu Wright, age 85, of Mershon, passed away Tuesday evening (4/14/20) at Orange Park Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida following a short illness.

Born March 25, 1935 in Omura, Japan, she was the oldest child of the late Daiji and Masai Shimizu.  She married the late Haven A. Wright while he was serving in the US Navy. They lived in Long Beach, CA, Baltimore, MD, Pensacola, FL, Newfoundland, Canada, Norfolk, Virginia, Yokusuka, Japan, and Poway, California. Following his retirement in 1973, they moved to Pierce County.  

She had worked various jobs in the area but worked several years as a seamstress for Jacobson’s in Waycross.  She was a member of Abundant Life Christian Center in Blackshear. 

Affectionately known to her grandchildren and their many friends as “Bachan”, Japanese for “Grandma”, she was a faithful supporter of her grandchildren and great grandchildren in their sports endeavors. Traveling many miles from Georgia to North Carolina and to Augusta State University to the University of Central Florida, she loved to be in attendance for as many games as possible.    

Survivors include her 2 daughters, Susan Taylor (husband Joey) of Patterson and Kathy Keadle (husband Lavon) of Blackshear; 4 grandchildren, Josh Taylor (wife Abigail) of Patterson, Kristina Mills (husband Aaron) of Pineville, NC, Jeff Taylor (wife Shanna) of Patterson, and Lindsay Birdsong (husband Brook) of Mooresville, NC; 7 grandchildren, Seth Taylor, Anslei Taylor, Brody Taylor, and Thomas Mills, all of Pinesville, NC, and Josh Taylor, Jr., Miley Taylor, and Madison Head, all of Patterson; sisters, Kaoru Kawai of Tokyo, Japan and Kazuko Tanaka of Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture; brothers, Nobuyuki Shimizu of Tokyo, Japan and Kouji Shimize of Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

A private graveside funeral service will take place Thursday at Bristol Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Abundant Life Christian Center, 905 Main Street, Blackshear, GA 31516.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com.

Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.

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