The wonderful life of 'Mr. 29464'
Moultrie News June 19, 2025
Native son John Wright entertained his large audience at the June 18 Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, while reflecting on personal triumphs, setbacks and redemption since returning to his hometown.
Area business owners and first responders in attendance were apprised of the current talk show host's roots as a Shem Creek shrimper at the age of 7. Upon being told that he wasn't cut out to be fisherman, a young Wright enlisted in the Army and later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he found his purpose.
Wright's 29-year stay in the Queen City, in fact, saw him connect with one of his mentors, Sen. Eric Kearney, who turned him on to walk for people in need. That seminal walk took him from Cincinnati to the State House in Columbus.
"In all of about 29 years away from home, I often told people: 'I'm from the mighty Mount P' — I am Mr. 29464," said the guest speaker who came back home 12 years ago, not to kick back in his lawn chair, but to make a difference.
In 2012, Wright spearheaded his own walk to raise awareness for child obesity. He and his team trekked from Mount Pleasant to Columbia over a period of four days. One year later, Wright orchestrated his second walk to shine a light on food deserts. That second excursion proved inspirational for the well-traveled philanthropist in that it put him in touch with former football coach Dave Spurlock, who dispensed his valuable guidance.
In the midst of growing unrest between some community members and law enforcement in 2016, Wright recalled reaching out to then Mount Pleasant Police Chief Carl Ritchie about hosting a youth summit.
"That day I had maybe 25 officers in the room. We had about 35 kids. We had a very constructive conversation, [it was] a very good opportunity to bridge the gap when it came to youth and the police department," he added.
He later credited Isle of Palms Mayor Phillip Pounds and Isle of Palms PD for their ability to act on a request for wheelchair access to the beach. The idea for the ramp, according to Wright, came from his wife Pamela, who after battling breast cancer developed a neurological disorder that rendered her disabled about five years ago.
Also on Wright's to-do list was to provide relief for the residents of Flint, Michigan facing a public health dilemma spurred by their lead-contaminated water supply from 2014 to 2019. Thanks to the local humanitarian's ability to generate contributions from the community, 40,000 gallons of water were delivered to the Flint area.
The now 58-year-old Wright also mentioned the key role that former Mount Pleasant Mayor Billy Swails had in his life by introducing him to Snowden Community native Thomesena Stokes-Marshall. Together they went on to co-found the African American Historic Settlement Commission (AAHSC) to preserve and protect the unique history and culture of African-American communities in the Tri-County area.
"Around 2012, 2013, when I came back here, what I was hearing consistently was doughnut holes, unincorporated areas of Mount Pleasant. Well, remember, I'm Mr. 29464 — that didn't sit well with me."
Determined to recognize the culture and legacy of the settlement neighborhoods, Wright and Stokes-Marshall poured their energies into building the Peter and Marguerite Johnson Center at 440 Venning St. in the Old Village. The Johnsons, he noted, started the first Black-owned business (a funeral home) in Mount Pleasant.
While the local center was a crowning achievement, it wouldn't be until 2021 that Wright and Stokes-Marshall experienced arguably their most gratifying feat in relocating the Long Point Schoolhouse.
Despite some early challenges, the duo diligently worked behind the scenes to move the school edifice about 1.5 miles away from its current home at 1578 Snowden Road.
Wright fondly looked back at the collaborative endeavor, stating: "So, what we did that day, we felt like we restored a sense of pride to that community. All of the older people who went to that school had never had seen the school moved into their community — and with a chance, an opportunity to create a cultural education center."
Mr. 29464 concluded his life's recollections by calling up Natalie Knox and Jim Westerhold of Boone Hall Plantation. He thanked both for their help in making the now annual Black History Month celebration at Boone Hall a reality.
"It was a great idea and it was the right time because we then had the opportunity to do something that had never been done before. And that was to create a title celebrating the descendants. Myself and all of the members of the settlement communities are descendants of Boone Hall Plantation."
