William L. Wainwright (October 19, 1947 – July 17, 2012) was a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's twelfth House district, including constituents in Craven and Lenoir counties.
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.
[6] William Wainwright was born in Somerville, Tennessee and graduated with a BS degree from Memphis State University in 1970.
[8] In January 2007, Wainwright was nominated by his colleagues in the Democratic caucus as Speaker pro tempore of the House.
[9] He was elected on January 24, making him the first African American to serve in the number-two post in the House since Reconstruction.