Birth Date: 04/21/1923
Deceased Date: 07/22/2020
Gwendolyn Beatrice Porter-Price (Bea), was the second child, and the first daughter of four; William, Bea, John (Mary Benning-Porter), and Jeanette Porter-Ridgeway (R.L.), born to Anthony and Roberta Gates-Porter, of Troup County, Georgia. Bea’s sunrise was April 21, 1923, and her sunset was July 22, 2020.
Sometime after graduating from East Depot High School in La Grange, Georgia, Bea left to join her brother John and another sister, Charlie Mae Porter-Curry (Milton), in New York City. While living in Brooklyn with Charlie Mae, Bea met the man with whom she would spend the next sixty years plus years of her life, Preston Price. While in New York, Bea went on to go and graduate from nursing school and become a registered nurse. Bea worked as a registered nurse at Coney Island Hospital In Brooklyn until her retirement.
On October 12, 1952, Bea and Preston were married, they eventually settled in Queens, New York, Although no children were to come of their union, throughout their lives, Bea and Preston provided love, care, and support to all children who entered their home. After building and living a successful life in New York, Bea and Preston retired to Preston’s home state of North Carolina where they were surrounded by loving family. While living in Selma, North Carolina, Bea dedicated her time to her family, her church, her friends, and her community. In 2009, Preston died and Bea lost the love of her life and her best friend. Bea remained in Selma until she could no longer maintain and care for the house that she and Preston built.
In 2014, Bea made the decision to leave Selma and return to the place of her birth to be close to her sister Jeanette’s children, Mary Ridgeway-Davis (Walt), Robert (Sandra), Anthony (Tammy), and Robin and their families. Bea settled in with Anthony (Bo) and Tammy, where she passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
Bea was blessed with life’s longevity, so she was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, uncles, aunts, brother’s and sister’s in-law, cousins, nieces, (including her namesake, Beatrice Ridgeway-Dorsey), nephews, friends, far too many to list them all.
Left to celebrate her life, is the only person left from her generation, her brother-in-law Robert Price (Josephyne), scores of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and some great-great nieces and great-great nephews, cousins, and friends spread all over the United States from Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, New York, Maryland, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, California, and parts in between.
The family of Beatrice Porter-Price is grateful and have been very blessed to have had her to share with the world these 97 years. We thank everyone for their kind words and expressions of condolences. They are truly appreciated! We especially thank God for daughter/sister/wife/auntie/cousin/friend Beatrice!
Viewing
Wednesday, July 29
2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Sanders Funeral Home Chapel
806 E Market St
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-8416
All attendees are asked to wear a mask and to participate in social distancing.
Graveside Service
Thursday, July 30
1:00 PM
Pinecrest Cemetery
12830 US 70 Business Hwy W.
Clayton, NC 27520
