Background
Wainwright, William L. was born on October 19, 1947 in Somerville, Tennessee, United States. Son of James and Daisy Montgomery Wainwrigh.
Wainwright, William L. was born on October 19, 1947 in Somerville, Tennessee, United States. Son of James and Daisy Montgomery Wainwrigh.
University of Memphis.
A church elder from Havelock, North Carolina, Wainwright was serving in his eleventh term in the state House of Representatives when he died in office after a prolonged illness. William Wainwright was born in Somerville, Tennessee and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Memphis State University in 1970. He was pastor of Piney Grove AME Zion Church from 1985 to 1993.
In January 2007, Wainwright was nominated by his colleagues in the Democratic caucus as Speaker pro tempore of the House.
He was elected on January 24, making him the first African American to serve in the number-two post in the House since Reconstruction. He was re-elected Speaker pro tempore in 2009.
After Democrats lost their House majority, Wainwright was elected deputy minority leader.
Pastor Piney Grove AMEZ Church. Member of Head Start Program's United Senior Scva. (board directors), Havelock-Cherry Point Ministerial Association, Voters League, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Craven).