Owen Cranford Prince

Owen Cranford “OC” Prince, age 91, passed peacefully at his home in Echols County, surrounded by his family on January 1, 2024. Born in Cairo, on May 22, 1932, he spent several years growing up in Grady County before his family moved to Lake Park for his grandfather to become the Pastor at Bethel Church of God in 1938. He graduated from Lake Park High School in 1949 and then settled into Echols County. While in Echols, he met and started dating the former Virginia Westberry. They were married on Aug 17, 1952, at Bethel Church of God. He first started working at Hercules Powder Company and worked several years before he started farming on his own. After a few years, he then started working at Blossman Gas Company and he worked there for 24 years before retiring in the mid 1980’s. Mr. OC then started working at Coggins Farm Supply and worked there for several years until retiring for good in the early 1990’s. Even after retirement, he continued to chauffer his wife, Mrs. Virginia around to her job and her errands, until her death in 2008.

Mr. OC was very active in the community, having served for 32 years at Seven Rivers RC & D, having been Secretary for 25 of those years. He was a District Supervisor and Chairman of the Alapaha Soil and Water Conservation District for 31 years and was recently honored for his service there. He also served on the Echols County Recreational Board and currently served as Registrar on the Echols County Board of Elections. A lifelong member of Bethel Church of God, Mr. OC served as Clerk of the Church for almost 40 years, taught Sunday School for many years and led the choir for several years. An avid fan of the Lowndes High Vikings, and a lifelong member of the Viking Touchdown Club, Mr. OC and Mrs. Virginia also enjoyed traveling all over after their retirements.

Survivors include his son and daughter in law, W. Owen & Josie Prince of Lake Park; his daughter, Tawanna A. Prince of Echols County; two brothers, Vernon Prince of Baconton, and Thomas A. & Elke Westberry of Live Oak, FL; and four grandchildren, Benjamin O. (& Kayla) Prince of Lake Park, Candise (& Greg) Jenkins of Tucson, AZ, Stuart (& Cheyenne) Brooks of Lake Park and Mason (& Hope) Brooks of Richmond Hill. Also surviving are 14 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. He is preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Virginia Westberry Prince, a daughter Lisa Virginia Prince; two sisters, Doris Willene Westberry and Carolyn Jean Brady; a sister in law, Jeanne Prince; and his parents Owen Prince, Eva Nell Griffis Prince Westberry and Thomas Andrew Westberry, Sr.

The funeral for Mr. Prince will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, January 6, 2024, in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home in Valdosta. Pastor Daryl Pate will officiate. Burial will follow at Carter Cemetery in Echols County. The family will receive friends Friday evening, January 5, 2024, at Carson McLane in Valdosta from 6 until 8 pm. Condolences to the family may be conveyed at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home