Patricia Wright Gwyn

Reidsville, NC

Patricia “Trish” Gwyn, 89, formerly of Reidsville,  died peacefully and surrounded by family, following her fight with Parkinson’s Disease, on October 16, 2018, at Well-Spring in Greensboro.  She was the daughter of Willard Wyldre Wright and Dorothy Thomas Wright. Trish is survived by her sister, Sarah Jane Crough of Great Falls, MT; children, Dr. Julie G. Packard and husband, William F. Packard, Dr. Dorothy G. Harper and husband, J. Stanway Harper, of Guilford County, and Wright H. Gwyn of Oxford, Ohio; two grandchildren, W. Russell Harper of Wake County and Christopher C. Harper, of Washington, DC; two great-grandchildren, Gaia Lee Gwyn Harper of Boone NC, and Julius Alejandro Harper of Cary, NC, and many nieces and nephews.  Trish was born in Montreal, Canada and lived in several northeastern cities during her youth.  She attended Spencer School (New York) and Walnut Hill (Massachusetts) and graduated from Duke University in 1951 where she met and married the “love of her life”, Julius J. Gwyn.  She and Jule settled in his hometown of Reidsville after he graduated from Duke University Law School in 1953.  Jule established a law firm and together they raised their three children.  Trish went on to earn her Master of Library Science degree at UNCG. Having lived in Reidsville for over 55 years, Trish worked to improve the welfare of the Reidsville/Rockingham County community and its children.  She was a kindergarten teacher for seven years and then became director of the First Presbyterian Church Child Development Center. Later, Trish had a 22-year career with the Rockingham County Library system, beginning as the Book Mobile librarian and becoming the Director of County Libraries. Trish volunteered with many governmental and civic organizations in Reidsville including: the Race Relations Council, Downtown Corporation, Rotary Club, YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, the Soup Kitchen, and Girl/Boy scouts. She also became involved in county-wide organizations including: Leadership Rockingham, the Chambers of Commerce, Rockingham County Tomorrow, Partnership for Children, Piedmont Coalition for Children, Arts Council, Folk Festival, Public Health Department, Planning Board, Student Health Centers, Teen Court, Unified Home Health, Triad Council of Government Consortium, Northwest Piedmont Library Council, and the North Carolina Public Library Directors Association. She was proud to serve on The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners from 1996-2000 and became the first woman Chair of the Commission in 1999. Trish was awarded the following for her dedication to Reidsville and the Rockingham County Community: North Carolina Public Library Directors Association, Lifetime Achievement Award (1996); Reidsville Chamber of Commerce, Citizen of the Year Award (1997); Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service (1999); NAACP/Reidsville Chamber of Commerce Human Relations, Humanitarian Award (2001); 1st Champion for Children Partnership (2007).  There will be no formal viewing, but the family will receive friends at Citty Funeral Home from 6 pm until 8 pm on Monday, October 22. A private memorial service will be planned at a later date. Memorial gifts would be welcomed in lieu of flowers, by the Rockingham County Partnership for Children, Inc., PO Box 325, Wentworth, NC 27375-0325. Online condolences may be sent to www.cittyfh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patricia Wright Gwyn, please visit our floral store.