Rebecca Bright

Rebecca Margaret Waller, known later in life as Beckie Bright, was born in Staunton, Virginia on July 1, 1930, the first child of Dr. Charles J. Waller and Mrs. Ruth Washington Waller.

As a teen, Beckie and her sister Kay attended boarding school at Northfield School for Girls, now Northfield Mount Hermon, in East Northfield, Massachusetts. From there she attended Ithaca College where she earned her Bachelor of Science. She continued her education and earned a Masters of Arts degree in Music from Columbia University Teachers College, which she followed with further studies of Education at Columbia University Teachers College in 1981.

On July 9, 1955 she married Harry O. Bright, Jr., and while following her passion for music and music education she raised her two children David M. Bright and Miriam Kay Bright. As loving mother she took on the role of Den Mother for her son's Cub Scout troop, and Brownie Leader for her daughter's troop, and member of the "Hansel & Gretel/Jack & Jill" Group of Westchester County. All this in addition to being active on the local Parents & Teachers Association. Beckie lived a full and meaningful life in White Plains, New York, where she remained a dedicated member of the White Plains community for the nearly 7 decades.

Beckie was a music teacher in the White Plains School district for over 30 years. She was fondly remembered for many years afterward by those she worked with in the school district, most notably by the students in her music classes at the East View Middle School.

She toured Europe singing professionally during the late 80's. After retiring as a teacher, she continued to participate in the field of education as a member of the Retired Educators Scholarship Committee.

She was a life long member Women's Club of White Plains and of the White Plains Beautification Foundation. She was a supporter of the Friends of Downtown Music. She was a sister of Delta Sigma Theta and part of the Westchester Alumni.

Beckie shared her love music and her musical talents as well as her organization skills with the groups she belonged to. She was choir member, choir director, moderator and trustee of the Chatterton Hill Church as well as the President of the Interfaith Council of White Plains.

Beckie was preceded in death by her son David in May 2022. She is survived by her husband of 68 years Harry O. Bright, Jr. and daughter, Miriam Kay Bright & her husband Clifford Thomas of Los Angeles; and nephews: Charles Waller Harkless & wife Aileen Hefferren Harkless & their two sons in Harlem, NY, and Guy Harkless & wife Bertha French Harkless & their three children in St. Petersburg, FL, and Andre Bright in Durham, NC, Brenda Bright of Durham & their daughters, and Dr. Cedric & Maria Bright of Greenville, NC & their son.

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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Rebecca Bright entrusted her care to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Bright family during their time of bereavement.

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A public Celebration of her Life & Memorial Service is being planned for July 6th, 2023 - friends to gather & visit starting 10:30AM, Memorial Service to start 11AM.

The church will be live-streaming the service on ZOOM, also available here on our website the day of the service where it says WATCH WEBCAST, so you're able to view there/here also/instead.

Please still leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor.

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In LIEU of flowers, & as a lasting tribute, the family kindly instead prefers a contribution may be made in her name/memory/honor to The White Plains Beautification Foundation (may be done on your own or through the donation tab/link here in website at the bottom of this page). You may also choose to plant a tree as a lasting tribute, otherwise a contribution may be made in her name/memory/honor as outlined above previously. The Family Thanks You!