Mary Honor Farrow Wright

Educator, Mother, Founder

Mary Honor Farrow was born August 11,1862 on Magnolia Street in Spartanburg, SC. Her parents were Lott and Adeline Farrow.

Sisters, Clara Henry (Carrie) and Mary Honor Farrow, both became leading educators in Spartanburg. (about 1880)

Mary married William Corbert Wright in 1884.

20 years 22 years

Mary and William had 10 children. Five were boys and five were girls. Two of the boys (twins) died in infancy.

Children of Mary Honor Farrow Wright

Mary H. Wright’s Children

J. Bratton Wright,4th son, became a shoemakerin Washington, DC.

Carrie NellHamilton, 3rd daughter,held a governmentposition in Washington, DC.

Bennie MaeMansel, 5th daughter, taught school in Spartanburg.

Two of Mary’s daughters pose for a photograph in the early 1900s.

Members of the Farrow-Wright family dressed for church in the early 1900s

Farrow Belle McWhirter, granddaughter of Mary H. Wright

Mary H. Wright began teaching in 1879,at the age of 17. She taught school in Spartanburg for 65 years.

Her advice to anyone wanting to be a teacher was :

“They must love children and have patience.”

Mary Honor Wright (first from right) is pictured with students from Highland Elementary School in the 1930s.

Mary Wright did not limit her activities to teaching. In the 1940sshe started a chapter of the American Red Cross at the new TobeHartwell Apartments. Mary Wright is the second from the right (holding the flag) and her eldest daughter, Addie is at the left.

In addition to teaching school, Mary Wright ran a boarding house in her home at 388 Liberty Street.

In 1925, Mary began a Christmas Tree for orphaned and single parent children. On her death bed in 1946, she asked her children to keep the tree going after she was gone. Pictured is her eldest daughter, Addie McWhirter, at the Christmas Tree Party in 1974. The tradition continued for 55 years until 1980.

Mary Honor Wright and her family are buried at the City Cemetery.

Mary H. Wright Elementary School, built in 1951, was named in honor of Mary Honor Wright.

The new school, built in 2000, still honors the name of Mary Honor Wright.