John Henry Price Jr.

John H. Price, Jr., 101, passed into the loving hands of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 5, 2025 at his home in Jackson, MS. While we mourn his passing and will miss him dearly, we are reminded that John led a long, full, healthy, and successful life.

John was born to John Henry Price, Sr. and wife Mary Sheedy Price in Indianola, MS on December 14, 1923. John grew up in the Mississippi delta during the years of the Great Depression, and those difficult times motivated him to succeed like few other things he encountered in his life. After graduating from Indianola High School in 1941, he entered Sunflower Junior College (now Mississippi Delta Community College) in Moorhead, MS. While there, John was on the debate team and was also elected president of the YMCA. Following his first year at SJC, John received a principal appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he spent one year. In 1943, he volunteered for active military service in World War II and completed his training at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, MS. Although he was offered the opportunity to attend Officer Candidate School in 1944, he chose instead to ship out overseas with his original group, the 609th Tank Destroyer battalion. The 609th initially landed in Great Britain, but from there, they traversed the English Channel in September, 1944, and landed on Utah Beach in Normandy, France. Thereafter, he served in that battalion under General Patton’s 3rd army. In Europe, during 1944-1945, the 609th was involved in a number of battles, including the Battle of the Bulge. Following the war’s end in Europe, John spent several weeks in southern Germany awaiting his transport back to the U.S. for some rest and relaxation before being shipped off to the Pacific Theater. Fortunately, the war ended in the Pacific before his and many others’ transfer to the Pacific Theater of War became necessary.

Upon being honorably discharged from military service in 1945, with the rank of Sergeant, John resumed his undergraduate studies in 1946, this time attending Ole Miss under the GI Bill. While there, he simultaneously received his undergraduate and law degrees. He also served as president of the YMCA, vice president of the Wesley Foundation, vice president of his freshman law class, was a member of the Lyceum Committee, co-chairman of the Committee of 100 (which sponsored Religious Emphasis Week), and was president of the state Methodist Student Movement. In 1948, John’s last year at Ole Miss, he both graduated from Ole Miss Law School with a Bachelor of Laws degree and was inducted into the Ole Miss Hall of Fame.

John left Ole Miss and immediately returned to Indianola, where he began the practice of law with his father, who was a 1906 graduate of Ole Miss Law School. In 1956, John left Indianola to join the Mississippi Attorney General’s office in Jackson as an assistant attorney general under then Attorney General Joe Patterson, and while in that position, John had the honor of representing the State of Mississippi in a case before the United States Supreme Court. Also, shortly after his arrival in Jackson, John met Jackson-native Norma Newell, and they were married in 1956. After leaving the Attorney General’s office, John entered the private practice of law. For those who knew him, they will confirm John’s affable and likeable nature. He was just one of those people everyone liked, and his dedication to effectively representing his clients and pursuing a perfect work product were unmatched. John loved the law, and he so loved the profession in which he practiced until his retirement in 2006. John was an active member of Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church for many decades, and later, became an active member of Christ United Methodist Church. He was also a 50+ year member of the Central Jackson Lions Club, and he was very fond of the many men with whom he served.

Having enjoyed a full, healthy life, it is clear his loving Lord greatly blessed him. He was a wonderful son, husband, father, grandfather, and he took great delight in becoming a great grandfather. John was preceded in death by his parents, by his brother, Fred G. Price, Sr. of Byhalia, MS, by his sister, Mary Etta Price of Ridgeland, MS, and by his wife of 67 years, Norma Newell Price. He is survived by his children, Dianne Price Knowles (Glenn) of Boston, MA and David N. Price (Valerie) of Flowood, MS; his nephews Fred G. Price, Jr. (Kim) of Collierville, TN, Sanford Hamner “Sandy” Newell, III (Ann) of Statesboro, GA, and Lee Newell of Pensacola, FL; his nieces Patricia Ann Price Dreve of Memphis, TN, Becky Newell Marshall (John) of Atlanta, GA, Linda Hudson-Naef (Richard Hudson) of Jackson, MS, Lori Naef (Ted Ammon) of Madison, MS, and Lisa Naef Terry (Michael) of Queens, New York; his grandchildren Alexandra Knowles Kahveci (Kyle) and Haven Knowles of Boston, MA, and Hunter Flynt (Serena) of Flowood, MS; and great-grandsons Benjamin Kahveci, Graham Kahveci, and Jacob Kahveci of Boston, MA and Harrison Flynt and Hayes Flynt of Flowood, MS.

The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to Lashonda Robinson, Teresa Cox, Simone Poindexter, and Deborah Lindsey for their love, comfort, and exceptional care of our father these past few years. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the staff and nurses of Sitters, LLC and Heart of Hospice, respectively.

Visitation will be held at Parkway Funeral Home 1161 Highland Colony Parkway Ridgeland MS. 39157 Tuesday March 11, 2025 from 10:00-12:00 pm with funeral service beginning at 12:00 pm.

Dad, we’ll miss you so much, but we look forward to the day we’ll see you and mom again!

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made in his name to a charity of one’s choice.

https://apps.oyez.org/player/#/warren7/oral_argument_audio/13759

https://www.ww2online.org/view/john-price