Marcus Floyd Price, Jr., 78

Marcus Floyd Price, Jr., age 78, of Swainsboro, passed away Thursday, July 24, 2025, surrounded by family he cherished and who cherished him in return. Funeral services were held Monday, July 28, at 10 a.m. at Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors with Pastor Casey Shaw officiating. Interment followed at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Family received friends from 9 10 a.m. at the funeral home.

Pallbearers were Mark Price III, Tripp Fitzner, Chris Oglesby, Jeff Johnson, Charles Paul, Travis Neal, and Wendy Underwood. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Born August 3, 1946, in Sandersville, Mr. Price was the son of the late Rev. M.F. Price and Esther (Harrison) Price of Wrightsville. Because his father served in the Air Force, Marcus spent his early years living on military bases in Texas, Alaska, Kentucky, and other states before graduating from Washington County High School.

Mr. Price would jest that his parents once told him, if he wanted something to eat one Sunday, he’d better ride along to a reunion near Midville, where his father had been invited to bless the meal. In fact, it was Brenda’s uncle who had invited the Rev. M.F. Price and family to the Wiggins reunion. That unexpected meeting would become a defining moment in both their lives, marking the beginning of a lifetime of shared faith, deep affection, and enduring devotion.

Mr. Price was a graduate of Brewton-Parker College, Georgia Southern University, and Augusta College School of Law. Throughout his career, he served in multiple roles that reflected his compassion and sense of justice. He worked as a psychological and behavioral specialist at the Jenkins County Training Center, as an assistant public defender for the Middle Judicial Circuit, and later as a probation officer in Swainsboro, where he retired in 2009.

A longtime member of First Baptist Church of Swainsboro, Mr. Price taught Sunday School and lived out his quiet, enduring faith. He was also a member of the Swainsboro Exchange Club and the Sons of the American Revolution until his health prevented participation. He maintained his membership in the American Bar Association.

Mr. Price always enjoyed being around people and especially looked forward to his Saturday outings uptown, a chance to run into familiar faces or, at the very least, pick up a burger before lunch. As his health declined, those outings became more difficult, but his spirit remained unchanged. He was humble, welcoming, and quick with a joke. His good-natured humor, often delivered with a grin and a cheerful “I’m poor!” to explain everything, was a signature trait, surpassed only by his devotion to family.

Of all that he loved, Mr. Price cherished his family most. He very rarely missed a daily lunch visit to see his father at the Emanuel County Nursing Home in the early 2000s. A history buff and particularly a World War II enthusiast, Mr. Price introduced his young grandsons to the planes at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins and the ruins at Fort Frederica, even as his mobility challenges began to increase.

Above all, Mr. Price remained humble, steady, and full of quiet strength. His faith guided him, his family grounded him, and his warmth and humor made others feel at ease. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. Mr. Price is preceded in death by his parents; beloved daughter, Jessica Lynn Price; and sister, Barbara “Bonnie” Price Odom.

Mr. Price is survived by his wife, Brenda (Johnson) Price of Swainsboro; son, Marcus Floyd Price III (Tabatha) of Warner Robins; daughter, Jennifer (Tripp) Fitzner of Swainsboro; four grandsons, Song Fitzner, Elic Fitzner, Nate Price and Cameron Price, sister-in-law, Margaret (Lewis) Johnson of Dublin; nieces and nephews, Nicky (Travis) Neal, Gena (Ricky) Sapp of Louisville and Jeff (Melinda) Johnson of Dublin; and a host of great-nieces and nephews who will remember him fondly.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to: First Baptist Church of Swainsboro Building Fund, PO Box 828, Swainsboro, GA 30401.

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors was in charge of arrangements.