About Us

With over 30 years of experience, Derek opened Wright Funeral Home & Crematory to help his community and surrounding areas to celebrate the life of loved ones. He also has served the residents of Henry County as their Coroner for the past 18 years. Derek is a triple licensee in the State of Alabama as a funeral director, embalmer, and cremationist.

Derek graduated from Headland High School in 1990 and attended Wallace Community College before graduating from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1993.

Derek is married to Natalie Hutto Wright, and they have two children; a son, Hayes Harrison Wright, and a daughter, Ivey Gail Wright.

Natalie Hutto Wright is a 1991 graduate of Headland High School.  She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Troy State University in 1995 and later received her Masters degree from Troy State University in Dothan in 2000.  Natalie is a sixth grade teacher at Headland Middle School.  She has been teaching in the Headland School system for 25 years.  She is currently serving her funeral director's apprenticeship at Wright Funeral Home and Crematory.

Natalie and their children, Hayes and Ivey, were big supporters of Derek's lifelong dream to own his own funeral home and all of the Wright family are involved in its daily activities.   

Tenille is a triple licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer and Cremationist.  She is a graduate of Jefferson State College in Birmingham, Alabama where she obtained an AAS degree in Mortuary Science.  Before attending mortuary school, Tenille worked at Southern Bone and Joint for 17 years as a Registered Radiologic Technologist and Registered Medical Assistant. She has an AAS degree in Radiologic Technology from Wallace College Dothan.

Tenille was born and raised around Henry and Dale County area her whole life. She is a member of New Zion Free Will Baptist Church in Tumbleton. She is married, has one daughter and one dog, all of whom she loves very much. She has resided in Headland with her family for over 20 years.

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Joe Hughes was born and raised in Dothan, Alabama and attended Dothan City Schools as well as George C. Wallace State Community College before moving to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to attend The University of Alabama.  After college he returned to Dothan and received his State of Alabama Real Estate Salesman License and eventually obtained his Real Estate Brokers License. Joe has been married to the former Janet DeFee of Haleburg, Alabama since 1990.

 In July 2014, Joe began his funeral career with Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home in Ozark, Alabama. In January 2020, he began working with Derek and his family and staff at Wright Funeral Home & Crematory.  He is a Licensed Cremationist.  Joe enjoys serving families and considers the Funeral Industry his true calling.  Joe and Janet are members of First Baptist Church in Headland.

Michael Boyd Patton was born and raised in Dothan, Alabama.  He is the son of the late Willard and Fredna Patton.  He was a 1987 graduate of Dothan High School. Michael was only a teenager when he started in the funeral home industry and has 35 years of experience.  Michael enjoys announcing at the East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City in his spare time.  Michael is a lifelong member of Southside Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama.  

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Shawn Webster Weed is a Henry County native. She graduated from Abbeville High School and attended Troy State University.  Shawn and her husband Chris have a son, Cole, in heaven; a duaghter, Connor; and the most fun grandson, Trace. Shawn considers it an honor to represent Wright Funeral Home & Crematory serving families.

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