A Celebration of Life for Carolyn Price will be held on the Facebook page: “Memories of Carolyn Price.” Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is handling her cremation. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be neither visitation nor burial service. Condolences, eulogies, and memories should be posted on the above Facebook page in honor of your memories of her.
Carolyn Sue McCall Price was born on February 3, 1949 in Bedford County, TN to Dorothy Orr McCall & John Frasier McCall and left this world at the age of 71 on August 7, 2020.
After graduating from Central High School in Shelbyville, she attended Stephens College, graduating with an Associate Degree with a major in dance. She then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree at MTSU with a major in Art. She went on to attend the University of Tennessee and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education. After graduation she taught Art in: Crystal River, Florida; Memphis, TN; and in Bell Buckle, TN at the Webb School, where she founded the Webb Arts & Crafts Festival and the Bedford County Arts Council.
In 1979, Carol was trying to start an Art Center in Bedford County when Larry’s aunt, Joyce Runez Atterholt (the matchmaker), introduced them to each other to discuss such possibilities. Ultimately, they fell madly in love and Larry swept her off to Atlanta to be his loving wife and to work with him in his Architectural firm, Urban Concepts. She first worked as their receptionist and secretary; then, she attended GA State University to earn a degree in Interior Design and worked with Larry in their Design & Construction business.
With such a union, Carol became stepmother to Larry’s 7 and 4 year old, children, Stephen and Susan Price. In 1982, she and Larry had their only child together, Jonathan Lee Price. As Larry’s two children were completing high school in 1991, the couple moved back to their hometown to raise their son Jonathan and to be close to their elderly mothers. Carol worked for Edwards Interiors for awhile before she was offered the position of art teacher at Central High School, where she mentored numerous students in their art work and careers during her 21-year tenure.
Over the years, Carol and Larry got back to their original goal of creating an Art Center, which brought them together in 1979. In 1991-92, they were instrumental in reviving the Bedford County Arts Council and lobbying the city to give the Fly Building to the Arts Council; thus, renovations began to create Shelbyville’s first Art Center
called “The Fly Art Center.” Carol continued to stay on the Art Council’s Board for all these years and has worked tirelessly to promote and encourage the Arts. In October 2001, Larry & Carolyn bought the Knox Pitts Hardware building on the Square and opened the Antiques, Art & Collectibles Mall. Carol and her close friend, Judy Williams, had a small antique store in Bell Buckle when Larry stole Carol off to Atlanta, so this was a continued realization of their dream to have a place to sell their art and to help other artists and antique dealers to market their wares. It was also a place for art workshops and artists to exhibit their work and to teach others their skills and methods.
Carol will be missed by all her students, the Art Council members, employees and vendors at the Antique, Arts & Collectibles Mall and by her loving husband Larry W. Price, daughter-in-law Stephanie Crosslin Price, her stepson Stephen Price (Heather), step-grandchildren Nick & Noah Avery Price, and stepdaughter Susan Price, amongst a great many more family and friends. Carol is preceded in death by her son Jonathan Price, her mother Dorothy Orr McCall, and her father John Fraser McCall and wife Mary McCall.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Jonathan Price Memorial Scholarship Fund would be very much appreciated. Any such gift can be sent to: Bedford County Arts Council, P.O. Box 762, Shelbyville, TN 37162.
Carolyn leaves us with a legacy of her quiet, caring, persistent example of leadership, as she left her hand prints in Bedford County’s Art and Educational Community. Fortunately, she mentored many others to continue in her footsteps.
