CLARA S. PRICE
Nov. 19, 1934 - Dec. 28, 2016
Clara S. Price, 82, of Mount Olive, went to be with her Lord and Savior at home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016.
Clara was born Nov. 19, 1934, in the Friendship Church area of northern Duplin County to the late Robert and Letha Summerlin. She was raised on the family farm and attended Faison schools, Mount Olive College and East Carolina College. In May 1951, she married Hubert Lee Price Sr. They were married for 30 years before his passing in 1981. Being a person of strong faith, she relied on God's help to adapt to life without Hubert.
Clara's love for her family was always first and foremost. To just say she was a wonderful Mama and Grannie would not do her justice. She was the matriarch and caregiver in her family and in her husband's extended family. As Hubert's health failed, she was always there to care for him and to comfort her children.
One of our special memories will always be her cooking skills! She could make you feel better immediately with one of her home-cooked meals. These were especially cherished by her beloved son-in-law, Charles, with whom she had a special bond.
As a young woman, Clara dreamed of working with children. After the birth of their third child, looking to help her family while also being home and available for her own children, Clara was able to open her own daycare business in her home in March 1963. She operated Tiny Tot Nursery and Preschool for over 51 years before closing in 2014. In 1976, she and her husband decided to expand the business to the Duplin County area. She operated Lee Ann Carole Playschool, named for her three children, in Faison, for several years.
The opportunity to spend her life working in childcare was Clara's calling. She cherished the time spent with her babies and made cherished memories to last a lifetime. She was blessed to be able to touch a child's life in a special way. She dearly loved seeing her former students later in life, even being able to care for their own children. She felt especially blessed to be able to care for her own grandchildren when they came along.
Active in the community and daycare profession, Clara was a charter member of the Mount Olive Business and Professional Women's Club and was honored as their Woman of the Year in 1990. She had also served on the Board of Directors of the Wayne County Partnership for Children and was a member of the Wayne County Daycare Association. Clara was a long-time member of Mount Olive Presbyterian Church where she faithfully attended the Mixed Adult Sunday School class for many years until her health declined; she was also involved with the Presbyterian Women.
Clara was blessed with friendships she made through the Mount Olive Christian Singles Group. It was there that she met a truly special friend, Tom Wallace, in 1986. She treasured their friendship, as did her children -- Mr. Tom has a special place in our family! They enjoyed such special times together with the group, including trips to various places throughout the United States.
Clara is survived by her children, J.B. Price and wife, Gwyn, of Goldsboro, Margaret P. Anderson of Mount Olive, and Patsy P. West and her husband, Jorge, of Mount Olive; grandchildren, Charles T. Anderson Jr. (Charlie) and wife, Ashley, of Mount Olive, Megan Lee Anderson of Raleigh, and Justin Price West of Mount Olive; great-grandchildren, Ivey Ann and Eva Claire Anderson of Mount Olive; and very special friend, Tom Wallace of Albertson; her sister, Nannie Ruth Bradford of Fayetteville; and special sisters-in-law, Cathy W. Price of Mount Olive, and Sue (Naomi) Samuels of Jenison, Mich.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Clara was preceded in death by her special son-in-law, Charles T. Anderson Sr.; brothers Oliver, Russell, and Melvin Summerlin of South Carolina; her sister, Evelyn Grace S. Faulk, of Mount Olive; and special sister-in-law, Ruth P. Spivey, of Loudon, Tenn.
The family wishes to give special thanks to Clara's loving caregivers. First to her sister-in-law, Cathy W. Price, who was more like a daughter, there to help when needed at any moment; Amy Price, niece, for her care and love shown every day; and to Carol Mele for simply being there. Finally, to Debbie Cruse and Bridget Cruse, from the deepest part of our hearts - thank you for the love, respect, and dignity with which you cared for Mama every day. We couldn't ask for more. Simple words cannot express our gratitude.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Tyndall Funeral Home. At other times, friends and family are welcome at the family home at 312 N. Church St., Mount Olive.
A service to honor and celebrate Clara's life will be held Saturday, Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. at Mount Olive Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow at Maplewood Cemetery.
Flowers are welcome and memorials may be made to N.C. Alzheimer's Association, c/o Carol Lancaster, 302 Saddlewood Drive, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534; Mount Olive Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 158, Mount Olive, N.C., 28365; or Partnership for Children of Wayne County, 800 N. William St., Goldsboro, N.C., 27530; or any charity to benefit a child.
A Tyndall Service, Mount Olive.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on December 30, 2016 9:57 AM