Lorenzen Wright’s Family Celebrates His 35th Birthday

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Lorenzen Wright may be gone but he's not forgotten. He would've been 35 years old. Family members and friends gathered to remember him on his birthday.

Lorenzen Wright’s family cried, and they laughed, but most importantly they got together to remember, and celebrate a life taken to soon.

"Happy birthday to my son. Yes he gave me the best 34 years any son could give any mom," said Lorenzen’s mother, Deborah Marion.

It has been over three months since Deborah Marion's son, NBA star and former Memphis Tiger Lorenzen Wright was found shot and killed in a field in East Memphis.

"I miss him; you don't imagine how much I miss him. I psych myself out like he is just gone playing basketball somehow. But I know I am going to see him again, I am going to see him again," said Marion.

Thursday November 4th was Lorenzen's birthday. Over a dozen of his close family and friends went to the site where he is buried and released 35 balloons for his 35th birthday.

"35 balloons because he is not hear to burst them, we let them go. He would normally bust them himself. But he wasn't here to burst them so we let them go and let them burst wherever they land," said Marion.
Marion was very close with her son. Wright was her first born.

She visits his grave site often just to have a private conversation with him.

"I come to talk to him like I normally would talk to him on the phone. Between me and him I come alone; I don't even bring his little brother with me. When I come sometime I just want to talk with him myself," said Marion.

As far as the investigation into her son’s unsolved murder is concerned on this day it wasn't a concern at all.

"I’m not thinking about the investigation really. I promise you today it's his birthday today. The police need to do what they need but today is his day. It's his day. I promise you that I haven't even crossed my mind. Today is his day," said Marion.

Wright’ family had a spaghetti and fish dinner his favorite; his mother said it is what her son would have wanted.