Ephrim Matthew Wright

Ephrim Matthew Wright, AKA “Punch,” was born on July 19, 1968, in Chicago, IL, to proud parents, Ethan Wright and Freida Curry, who preceded him in death.
Ephrim attended various schools such as Daniel Hale Williams Elementary School and Phillips High School, then he transferred to Bowen High School, where he graduated in 1987 with Honors as Summa Cum Laude. Ephrim decided he wanted to achieve more, so he attended Malcolm X College as well as Olive Harvey University, where he graduated with Honors, once again as Summa Cum Laude. The achievements did not stop there; he then decided to go to Loyola University for the Summer Program where he participated in basketball, football, and track.
In 1988, Ephrim met Alicia Buckner. They became best friends, and that following year they were married on September 2, 1989. Soon after, they created their first and only daughter, LaTonja Evangelyn Wright, whom he affectionately named “Precious.” He really loved and cherished his family, but sadly the marriage ended in 1993. He continued to keep the relationship alive with his daughter, Precious.
Ephrim was a very hard working man. He worked at multiple locations like Pizza Hut, Motorola, and Donnelly Directory, and delivered newspapers. He even worked temporarily in the Quad Cities Area.
Ephrim was very intelligent and had a great sense of humor and an amazing heart. He treated everyone the same way. If you knew Punch, then you knew his favorite saying was: “Roughly in a nutshell.” Ephrim loved his family so much and was a family figure to his nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Ephrim was preceded in death by: his parents, Ethan Wright and Freida Curry; his grandmother, Rosemary Curry; and his stepfather, Ellis Earl Smith.
Ephrim gained his angel wings at the age of 53 at Trinity West Hospital in Rock Island, IL on December 16, 2021.
Ephrim leaves to cherish his precious memories: his daughter, LaTonja Evangelyn Wright; grandchildren, Ariyana Webb and Jimmy Webb, Jr.; siblings, Michael Phillips, Cheryl Johnson (Lester), Joanne Edwards Collier, Robert Wright, and Tracie Wright Brown (Mark); and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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