Shelby Eugene Price

Shelby Eugene Price, 71, of Savannah, died suddenly on September 7, 2014 at home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Eugene and Vera (Hobbs) Price (formerly of Alamo, GA) a sister, Joyce Rubio (formerly of Stuart, FL/Vidalia, GA), and a brother, Jerry Price (formerly of Alamo/McRae, GA).

He is survived by his spouse, Scott Patrick of Savannah, a daughter, Pam Sineath of McRae, two granddaughters, Bree and Maddie Sineath, of Vidalia, and a brother, Lacey (June) Price of Helena, a sister-in-law, Nina Ruth Price, of McRae, and a sister, Shirley (Denton) Crochett, of Houston, TX and a very close friend, Todd Prescott of Reidsville, and an extended family.

Shelby was born in Broadhurst, Georgia (Wayne County) and moved throughout the region with his family working as share croppers. He learned about life in a simpler time and many joys and hardships that came with such. He could recall ways of a by-gone era with an amazing fund of knowledge of farming, cooking, and just about anything. Shelby was raised in the Church of God. Still, he was a rascal and loved to make people laugh. He was a colorful character with many wonderful and humorous tales to tell. He connected easily with people of all ages, even strangers he passed in public, with joy and with ease. He especially had a big heart for children and the elderly and those with special needs. Shelby graduated from Claxton High School in 1961 and served in the United States Navy during the Bay of Pigs Crisis. He worked in a variety of textile work and retired from Coastal Correctional Institute in Savannah as the Warehouse Manager in 1999. Shelby was recognized for excellence in his managerial skills. In his retirement, he loved working on his computer, his family's genealogy, contacting family and old friends, shopping for bargains, cooking, growing plants, working in his yard, and talking to anyone who would lend them his ear. He loved his dog, Sadie Belle, who was like a child to him and could occasionally be heard baby talking her when he thought no one was listening. (He did the same to the chicks that hatched to nesting doves in his backyard. These were "Lovie Dovie's" babies and Shelby's too!) During rainstorms, Shelby would escape out onto the back deck of his home to listen to the raindrops falling upon the tin topped roof of his patio during a storm. (He had the porch covered with aluminum/tin for this purpose.) There, he would escape for a nap or simply to relax and to think back to the days of his childhood; remembering the good feeling that he always associated with the sound of rain making music in the thousands of muted taps as each drop fell upon metal roof of his porch. In the days of his youth, there were many homes with such roofs and many places he associated with such memories. In those days, a hard days work in the fields might suddenly and happily, be interrupted by a storm. Gladly, such a day became a chance to relax, with the gift of a calm nap on the porch with him and his siblings all stretched out upon palates there. Until he drifted off to sleep, young Shelby listened to his parents sit in nearby chairs and tell stories as the family waited for the cloud to pass.

Shelby was absolutely one of a kind. He was not a hypocrite! Because he was often so upfront and honest with his thoughts, Shelby was not always very popular with many of those he initially met. Still, he most often found a way into the hearts of most; this because his heart was bigger than most. He was giving, generous, compassionate, loyal, and so funny that people could not help but to adore him. Still, to himself he was always true and he remained passionate about his convictions and forward in his opinions. And as others came to know him, they soon realized that if they could not agree with him, they certainly respected him and loved him despite their differences. Shelby will be dearly missed and his shoes may never be filled. (Especially, his high-topped tennis shoes!) :) We love you Shelby! Make the angels laugh! And in Heaven, FLY HIGH! YOU LIVED A GOOD LIFE HERE ON EARTH! And you left this World a better place! Thank you!

Visitation will be Wednesday, September 10, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Fairhaven Funeral Home in Garden City.

Funeral services will be Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jim Brooks officiating. There will be a private burial at Pinecrest Cemetery in Vidalia.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, or The Salvation Army US.