Willie Wright Sr. was born in upstate South Carolina before World War II. He is the son of Willie and Sadie Wright. He received his education at the Caroline School in Williamston, South Carolina, where he graduated as salutatorian in 1955. He graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1959 with a bachelor of arts in secondary education. While in college, he was a newspaper reporter for the Digest, a member of the US Army Advanced ROTC Corps, joined the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and participated in other organizations.

After receiving his degree at Southern University, he returned to South Carolina, where he pursued his education further. He worked toward a master’s degree at Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina; University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina; and South Carolina State College, Orangeburg, South Carolina. He received an elementary teaching certificate to teach in South Carolina.

Willie had a wonderful wife (deceased); five children (one deceased); four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother; and two sisters (one deceased).

In addition to education, Willie has served in many capacities in the Methodist Church during his lifetime and in local community organizations and educational capacities of leadership and work.