Victim in bus crash to be laid to rest Tuesday

STATESVILLE, N.C. — The Statesville community said a final farewell to a veteran killed in a bus crash in Tennessee last week.

The funeral for John Wright was held at Front Street Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon.

They were coming home from a retreat in Tennessee when their church bus blew a tire and crashed.

Wright was a longtime member at Front Street Baptist Church.

He spent time as a deacon and also sang in the choir.

Wright was escorted by the Patriot Guard from the funeral home to the church.

A visitation will be held for another victim, 95-year-old Cloyce Mathaney.

Mathaney went skydiving in his 90s and often told people, “Don’t stop living until you die.”

Front Street Baptist Church set up a new fund to help victims’ families.

The money donated will go toward hospital expenses, funeral expenses, and anything else the families need.

For information on how to donate, click here.

Wednesday, a community memorial will be held in Statesville.

WSOC