08/04/2022
Willie Price was born on October 9, 1937, in Shelby County (Center), Texas, to the union of Mary Liza (Hill) Price and Purvis Price. He passed away July 20, 2022 at the age of 84.
Visitation is from 4pm until 8pm on Friday, August 5, 2022 at Eastside Church of Christ, 9023 US-80, Hawkins, TX 75765. A celebration of life is at 11am on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at Jarvis Christian University, 80 Pr 7631, Hawkins, TX 75765. Interment is at Jarvis Christian University Cemetery, Hwy 80, Hawkins.
He was the second of 11 children, having six brothers and five sisters. Willie accepted Christ at an early age (12 years old). He was a member of the Church of Christ for over 73 years. He later became a member at East Side Church of Christ in Hawkins, Texas, where he also served as an Elder, deacon, and assistant minister. He was a son of God, a joint heir with Jesus Christ.
Willie attended elementary and high school at C. H. Daniels High School in Center, Texas. He participated in many activities during his attendance in this school, which included music, debate, and sports. He held several offices while in school. He also won many awards in singing and in inter-scholastic league activities.
The Price’s son had a lot of friends. Many people liked to be in his presence. He was the type of person who believed in the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Their son was dutiful about helping out where he could be of good service to someone. Willie had a lot of hobbies. He liked to bowl, fish, ride horses, attend movies, do woodwork, sing, read, and play. He believed that if anything was of real value in life, it would require hard work and sacrifice before it could become one’s own.
After graduation, Willie attended Jarvis Christian College, located in Hawkins, Texas. He majored in Business Education and minored in Social Science. He was interested in the fields of music and religion. He attended college for four years, graduating in 1962. He was a good student, earning 75% of his financial aid by working as a farm hand, machine operator, foreman, manager of poultry, dairyman, chauffeur, college bookstore manager, and mail/inventory clerk. He worked for Jarvis Christian College bookstore for over 17 years.
While attending Jarvis, he became a member of several organizations and clubs, which included The Future Business Leaders Club, Student National Education Association, Deacon Club, Young Men Christian Association, and Full-Time Christian Service. He also held several offices, including treasurer of the senior class, president and vice president of the business club, business manager of the junior class, and chaplain of the student council.
Willie was inducted into the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity in November of 1971 and has been a member of the Marshall, Texas, Alumni chapter for over 50 years. He furthered his education at the Institute of Biblical Studies of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He also had conferred on him the 33rd Degree of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, an honor bestowed for outstanding service to the Mason brotherhood.
Willie married Karen Jean Cartwright in February of 1962. The couple was blessed with three sons, Victor, Walter, and Kirk. Willie also had one daughter, Selena. Willie was an entrepreneur and led his family into several business operations. Among their many business ventures were Price’s Rental Bike Service (sales and repair shop), Price’s Psychedelic Shack, Price’s Rental Houses, Price’s House Rental Service (cars and trucks), Price Cleaning Service, and Price Savage Business. In 1997, Willie came out of retirement for a short time to work at a private company, Siebur Lumber
The company, as cashier/sales clerk. He continued to run Price Cleaning Service and Price Savage Business on the side. Willie was a strong advocate for Christian education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). He worked at and financially supported Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins, Texas, and financially supported Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas.
Left to cherish Willie’s memory are:
His two sons:
Dr. Walter Price of Terrell
Kirk Lamar Price of Hawkins
Daughter, Selena Price of Tyler
Sisters:
Iva Nell “Cookie” (James) Kindle of Dallas
Manetta “Nita” Miller of Mesquite
Elizabeth “Kay” (Thomas) Gulley of Cedar Hill
Margie Nell (Jackson) Jackson of Denver, Colorado
Brothers:
Curtis A. (Geraldine) Price of Center
Claudell Price of Stockbridge, Georgia
Freddie Price of Panama City Beach, Florida
Grandchildren:
Jazmine Price
Jamaal Price
Jada Price
George Price
Justice Price
Great-grandchildren:
George Abdul-Lamar Price, Jr.
Aniyah Price
Seyanna Michelle Price
Jahlil Prince Lynden Price
Lilyanna Lynee’
Francis Price
A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friend
Willie is preceded in death by his parents: Purvis Price, Mary Liza Price, and Johnnie Price; son Victor Arnez Price; sister Jessie Mae Price; and brothers Ralph Earl Price and Anthony Lee Price.
Services are under the direction of Bigham Mortuary, Longview, Texas.
