Annie Mae Price

Annie May Price, 95 passed away Monday, February 20, 2017. Annie Mae Price was born June 9, 1921 in Jacksonville, FL to Aaron Richard and Effie Lee “Higginbotham” Price. She was the fourth of five children and the only girl. The family moved to Pierson, FL when Annie was 3 yrs. old. Her father, Aaron traveled by wagon with her 3 older brothers: Fleming, Andrew, and Irving. Her mother, Effie arrived by train with Annie and the youngest brother, Driskell. They were not well to do and like many in those days, they endured thru the hard times of the depression. Subsequently, Annie's character was forged by those challenging times. She learned the principals of a good work ethic, to never give up, and to value family above all else. She also learned to not be picky about food. There were many times when turnips were the main or only item on the menu. Her father tried to have a truck farm and a cannery, however when times were most difficult; they did not have sufficient customers to make a go of it. At one point her father worked for the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) where he earned a much needed and appreciated $1.60 per day. Annie was a basketball player and she was reportedly quite adept at it; a natural. Of course, in those days she was much taller; 5ft. Achieving an “A” on a test was rewarded by being allowed to skip class and play tennis and subsequently; she played a lot of tennis! Annie was in a graduating class of 12 from Pierson High school. She moved to Deland and lived in a rooming house and worked in a children's home which is where she developed her life long habit of helping others. She married, Maurice Price and they followed his employment around the South, giving birth to 3 girls in Birmingham AL, and Knoxville, TN. Eventually employment opportunities dried up and Maurice was advised to go to Detroit, MI to find work; after which he sent for the family. Annie pawned her watch & wedding ring, borrowed money from the landlord and took the train to Detroit with 3 children under the age of 4 yrs. The trip was made even more arduous as she was traveling with one very sick child. Annie remained forever grateful to the compassionate porter who helped her through the ordeal. When the girls were older, Annie decided it was time to go back to school and start a career. She went to school in the mid 50’s and became a L.P.N. Nursing was a career Annie loved and excelled at. After Annie passed, her daughter, Beverly, spoke to one of Annie's life long friends and co-worker. This friend remembered that Annie was a hard and extremely compassionate worker who put the patients’ needs first and had no problem with chastising those who did not. This did not make her popular with the shirkers. She had quite a reputation due to her zeal, amazing lack of tact, and constant advocacy for the patients. Her daughter, Beverly tells a story of when she was a supervisor with the department of social services. One day while interviewing a prospective employee, Beverly inquired as to the woman's previous work experience. Coincidentally, the interviewee had previously worked at the same hospital as Annie. Beverly said, "That's where my mother worked, do you know Annie Price?" The woman said “No”, however when Beverly described Annie as a short dynamo.. the woman's eyes bugged out and her jaw dropped open and she stared and stared and stared at Beverly. As though waiting for Beverly to sprout horns or something. Attempting to diffuse the situation Beverly said "yes, it’s hard to believe that she could have a semi normal child." At this point the woman realized she was speechlessly staring at her with a look akin to horror and she started stuttering and stuttering, but couldn't find a way out of the awkwardness. Beverly finally described Annie as relentless and got the woman off the hook. Annie was relentless, she was relentless in her quest to provide superior care and make sure everyone else followed suit. Annie retired early due to a back injury and moved to North Carolina where she contracted to have a home built in the foot hills of the Smokey Mountains.During a visit to Michigan friends introduced her to Richard Heliker whom she married at age 63. After that she and Richard became snow birds and eventually ended up at Kove Estates full time. Richard later developed Alzheimer’s disease and Annie took excellent care of him for several years, but eventually he had to go to a nursing home where he passed away. Annie loved living at The Kove Estates. This is where she took up golf, bowling and just about every other activity they offered. In her later years, she walked the park with her walker twice a day, visiting with her neighbors and dispensing advice freely, but mostly she told sickly people that they should follow her example by walking. Annie was a faithful member of Deltona Christian and Missionary Alliance church. She had been a member of the Alliance Church in Detroit and this is where she was baptized. In total, Annie probably attended the Alliance Church for more than 60 years. Recently she has been affiliated with Osteen United Methodist Church for approximately the last 15 years. Her faith was strong and a lifelong core belief. Annie had a long life, during which she worked hard. Sometimes two or three jobs at a time. She sewed, planted a garden, canned, made jams and jellies. She also painted and wallpapered. She helped the elderly until she was too elderly to do so. She was a short and relentless dynamo, but at the same time, she was a loving and compassionate person. Her grandchildren and her faith were the light of her life. She will always be warmly remembered, loved; and most certainly she will be missed. She is preceded in death by her precious daughter, Kay Howell of Arlington,TX; her first husband , Maurice Price, and her second husband, Richard Heliker. Annie is survived by her precious daughters: Lois Matthews and her husband, Charles Bartlett Matthews of Harpswell, Maine; Beverly Henke and her husband, Theodore Henke of West Bloomfield, Michigan; her beloved sister-in-law, Louise Price of Pierson, FL; 7 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, much loved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A celebration of life will be held 11 AM, Sat. March 11th at Osteen United Methodist Church . in Osteen, FL. Memorial contributions can be made to: Osteen United Methodist Church ( http://www.umc.org/ ) or to Alzheimer's Association ( http://www.alz.org/ ).

Annie Mae Price

June 9, 1921 - February 20, 2017