A candle has been lit!

Noel will be in our hearts always, as a wonderful friend and protector of beloved animals he cared for and loved. May God now protect and love him.

- Mildred Yarborough, Savannah, GA

So sorry to hear this. What a great man. I saw him on bluff drive walking just a few weeks ago. He shared a lot of IOH history with me. His presence will be greatly missed.

- Lynda Baker, Savannah, GA

What a loss to the Isle of Hope Community. He was such a kind man. He would always come by to chat with me when I painted on Bluff Drive. He shared many stories of growing up with the McIntoshes. Last year I painted a painting from a long-ago photo of him and Ruth in their golf cart. I gave it to him at the Isle of Hope Art Festival, which they started years ago. He will surely be missed by many.

- SHARON MCINTOSH, Wilmington Island, GA

Your Dad was such a sweet and talented man. I only met him a few times but hear many great things about him and saw his wood grafting skills first hand. Any person I met from Isle of Hope knew who he was and spoke very highly of him. He will be missed.

- Margaret McIntyre , Savannah , GA

Noel's keen knowledge of IOH's history, waterways and creatures, gentile manner, and open reception to all will be deeply missed by residents of his island! Sincere condolence and heart-filled prayers are extended for his family who generously shared him.

- Mary Hill, Savannah , GA

The greatest Isle of Hope figure ever. He will so greatley misssed by everyone. The sadness is abundant, but his legacy tremendous.

- Michael Gross, Savannah, GA

Noel will be greatly missed, he was one of my best buddies. I will always have great memories of all of our great trips to Blackbeard Island. RW

- Ronald Weller, Savannah, GA

In coelo quies est.

- Al Saibini, Nevada Alpha '76, Bella Vista, Arkansas

- Bob Thomas , Roswell, GA

I thought many of Noel's friends would enjoy reading a recent text message with photo that he sent me. “ Here is a photo taken through the glass in my back door of a buck in velvet eating cat food that I put out for my two feral cats. I have a herd of deer, coons, possums, and red Fox that come up to my back door to eat. It is a menagerie around here. Oh, I forgot, I have a box turtle that comes up and eats the cat food also. “

- Bob Thomas , Roswell, GA

My sincerest condolences to the Wright family. Mr. Noel was a monumental figurehead to the Savannah and IOH communities. He was a well respected member of the Low Country Turners, and his talent, patience and passion were inspiration for many, including myself He was my mentor and great friend when I decided to start wood turning during and after COVID. He'd always say, "If you ain't turning, you ain't learning." His advice, camaraderie, guidance, and esp. his stories will be greatly missed by all. Rest in peace Sir, we will see each other again.

- AJ Roberts, Savannah, GA

Kathy, So sorry to learn of your father's passing. He was a wonderful and engaging man. So easy to talk with. The most knowledgeable person about Isle of Hope- a real Renaissance man - a writer,an artisan, a historian. I mentioned his passing to a woman who used to work with him at the bank and she said he was a wonderful boss. His passing is a tremendous loss for Isle ofHope.

- Stephen Smith, Savannah, Georgia

Kathy, So sorry to learn of your father's passing. He was a wonderful and engaging man. So easy to talk with. The most knowledgeable person about Isle of Hope- a real Renaissance man - a writer,an artisan, a historian. I mentioned his passing to a woman who used to work with him at the bank and she said he was a wonderful boss. His passing is a tremendous loss for Isle ofHope.

- Stephen Smith, Savannah, Georgia

Beautiful Service and Beautiful Family. I miss you all very much and think you all often. Rick Herndon

- Rick Herndon, Tallahassee, Florida

I have such fond memories of Noel. He and my late husband, Frank Draper were roommates at St.Andrews and the fraternity brothers at W&L. We did keep up later in life and Frank always said Noel was one of the kindest and most gifted men he had known. Warm regards, Fontaine Draper

- Fontaine Y Draper, Atlanta, GA

When the time came to place my sister Carol's ashes in the Skidaway River on the bluff where we grew up, I asked Noel. When we arrived he saw to it that everything on the dock was in order and gave us our privacy. Afterwards he asked "Joe, would you like to see the sword? "Absolutely!" I replied. His wife Ruthie had grown up in the 1940s two doors down in what became our house in the 1960s, 7 Bluff Drive. During renovations in those days they tore out the lath and plaster where the old outside kitchen had been connected to the big house. Behind the plaster was a Confederate artillery sergeants's sword, put there rather than surrendered to the Yankees in what was then a coastal artillery headquarters. Isle of Hope is full of memories, and Noel knew most of them. Goodbye to the last friend I knew on The Bluff.

- Joseph Daniel Young, Atlanta, GA, GA