"I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of the Reverend Timothy Wright, who had courageously battled against the severe injuries he sustained in a tragic car accident last summer which claimed the lives of his wife, Betty, and grandson Danny, Jr.  As the pastor of Grace Tabernacle Church in Crown Heights, and as one of the country's greatest gospel singers, Reverend Wright inspired millions of Americans as the 'Godfather of Gospel,' especially in his beloved Brooklyn.  He brought people together in worship, in music, and in fellowship. He was a great New Yorker and a great American who served our country in uniform and dedicated his life to helping others.  We will miss him dearly.  As his family and friends gather to celebrate his life and mourn his passing, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to them, and to ask all New Yorkers to keep Reverend Wright's extended family in their thoughts and prayers."