Michael Donald Price

Funeral services celebrating his life will be held 10:00 AM, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at St. Paul Roman

Catholic Church, 3005 Country Club Road, New Bern, North Carolina. Interment will follow after the

service in the church cemetery.

A native of Michigan, Mike was the loving husband of 46 years to Clara Jane “Janie” Price (deceased) and the son of Michael Otto Price (deceased) and his mother (deceased).

Mike joined the U.S. Army at age 19. After discharge from the military, he worked for the Florida, and

Alabama Departments of Agriculture as a fruit and vegetable inspector. He went on to work for the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C., investigating violations of the Perishable

Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), where he worked until his retirement in 1984.

Mike was a strong, kind, but sometimes gruff man who had many interests. He enjoyed simple things in

life and demonstrated the heart of a servant in everything he did – whether it was serving his Lord, his

family, his friends and neighbors, those in need, or his country. His interests included fishing, bowling,

and playing chess, but the thing he enjoyed the most, was gardening, teaching folks how to garden, and

the importance of sharing the fruits of their labor. Mike was a Master Gardener. Mike loved to grow

fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers. He shared so much of his garden with so many people. He

worked closely with Religious Community Services (RCS) in New Bern and was instrumental in

establishing a large garden at the NC Cooperative Extension – Craven County Center. All the food grown

there was donated to those in need. As a Master Gardener, Mike received many awards including the

Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service for doing 10,000 hours of volunteer service, and

the North Carolina Master Gardener Volunteer Association Award for providing 21 years of volunteer

service. Through gardening, Mike encouraged other garden volunteers, brought out the best in them,

and helped them develop not only gardening skills, but personal character as well. Mike truly walked

out his faith in service to others. He was, indeed, a good and faithful servant of the Lord.

Survivors include his son, Michael Raymond Price, of Stafford, VA, good friends, Bill and Sharon Rank, of Bridgeton, NC, and Art and Marlene Hines of Woodbridge, VA.

The family will greet friends from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, prior to the service at

the church. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 3005 Country Club Rd., New Bern, North Carolina.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cottenfuneralhome.com for the Price family. Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Michael Price.