Price Bethany

Price Bethany, 84, was called home Monday, December 21, 2009 at MS Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. Services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2009 from the Chapel of Chancellor Funeral Home in Florence. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. \ \ Rev. Kenny Culpepper and Rev. Joey Gousset will officiate the celebration of his life with interment in Mountain Creek Cemetery.\ \ Price was born November 28, 1925, to the late George Bunyard Bethany and Lola Harrison Bethany of Florence. He graduated from Florence High School and was a long time member of Mountain Creek Baptist Church.\ \ A World War II Navy veteran, 1944-1946, Bethany was called to active duty in the South Pacific assigned to the Carrier Division, serving aboard the USS Richard Bon Homme.\ \ Receiving an Honorable Discharge, Bethany returned home to become a journeyman newspaper printer, a career spanning some thirty years with the Jackson Daily News, The Laurel Leader Call, The State Times and the Oxford Eagle, respectively.\ \ An avid member of the Oxford Civitan Club, Bethany sponsored numerous civic projects and served as Club President.\ \ His love for life and nature was reflected in his unique abilities in wood working, gardening and preservation of nature and wildlife.\ \ After failing health in 1978, Bethany returned to Jackson. Four years later he built his family's retirement home in the Mountain Creek Community.\ \ He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Max Bethany of Lake, James Bethany of Hoover Lake, Ferrell and G.B. Bethany, both of Florence\ \ Survivors include wife, Janet Bethany of Florence; daughter, Donna Etheridge of Florence; one grandson, Zach Etheridge of Florence; one granddaughter, Patty (Anthony) Parham; and three great grandchildren: Raven Nicole Toombs, Lance Michael Toombs and Bella Kathryn Parham, all of Brandon; also a brother, Joe Bethany of Lake; one sister, Elizabeth Mahaffey of Madison. Other survivors include numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.\ \ This kind, gentle, hardworking man will be greatly missed by family, friends, and beloved pets, Barbie and Rock.\ \ In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Creek Baptist Church, Building Fund, PO Box 94, Florence, MS 39073.