Price
MACON — E.B. Price III passed away peacefully in his sleep Monday, February 9, 2026, but he didn’t live his extraordinary life peacefully.
Price was a man who grabbed the cup of life he was given and drank deeply. From humble beginnings on a small farm in Pringle, Ga., he was born into a family with no nonsense parents (E.B. II and Lottie), two unwavering brothers (Jerry and Wendell) and a doting sister (Betty Joyce).
Price was the first of this strapping bunch to receive a college degree, mostly because he was terrible at picking cotton. He became the charismatic teacher everyone wished they had until they showed out and had to run laps.
Coach Price started his teaching/coaching career in 1972 at Warner Robins High School, but spent all of his best yelling years at Waycross High School/Ware County High School covering three generations. Over that long, illustrious career he coached boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, football, golf and volleyball.
Price won over 500 basketball games, a state championship (1978), guided his teams to countless “Sweet 16”, “Elite 8s” and “Final Four” appearances warranting induction into the Georgia High School Hall of Fame in 2000.
There are so many Coach of the Year awards he ran out of wall space long before he ran out of plaques. So many of those awards came with the help of the dedicated assistant coaches and players in Waycross and Blackshear - Go Dawgs, Gators and Bears!
He also coached the Brantley County Lady Herons and Herons from 1982-84.
Price wished and hoped for a son, but was lucky enough to be blessed with three of the most amazing, willful daughters ever created. Shelley made up for it by having two sons (Mason and Miles) at one time though.
He was so proud of Brittini following in his teaching footsteps and Lexi becoming the doctor he always dreamed of.
Coach Price spent countless hours attending his girls’ school events, practices, games, competitions and making sure they had lots of sunsoaked fun every summer. When he wasn’t playing “beach golf” with the girls, he was playing the links at as many golf courses as he could.
All that time and money and his handicap never changed, but he did get that coveted hole-in-one at Laura S. Walker in 2020. Price spent almost every vacation day he had in sunny Florida until the ripe old age of 64 ,when he was determined to see the whole wide world.
With help from the friendly local credit union and Mr. Hurst, he managed to experience eight countries and 24 states mostly in his own clothes until he decided being a mall santa was more fun.
He always had an eye for a good side hustle. He organized and umpired hundreds of baseball/softball tournaments, taught young and old alike to drive (much better than he ever did), and even wrangled a college class once.
In the hustle of all of these activities, he still prioritized his faith and was a member of First Baptist Church. As if these activities weren’t enough, he was the treasurer of Ducks Unlimited and prided himself on how many new animals would be fried at the banquet each year.
Coach Price was full of wisdom he never hesitated to pass out, since the man never met a stranger. We all know you “get more flies with honey than vinegar”, “whether you think you can or think you can’t you’re right”, and a “childsize” portion is always just right.
On this terrible Alzheimer’s journey, Coach Price may not have always remembered your name, but that’s okay, because you will always remember him and all he gave us.
There are so many heroes who helped in caring for this legend in these last few years and deserve all our gratitude - Missy, Jennifer, Satilla Bluffs and our Westhill family.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Ware County basketball team or Central Georgia Autism in his name. Of course, no donations are required, but if you would like to find a nice spot to have a cold beer and sweet potato fries with blue cheese dressing, we know it would make coach smile.
A family service was held Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Wrightsville, Ga., with a Celebration of Life Memorial to be held Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Waycross (details to follow). We hope you will join us in March with your favorite Coach Price story to tell.
Stanley Funeral Home a n d Crematory/Wrightsville Chapel has charge of arrangements.
To sign the online register book please visit www.stanleyfuneralhome. com
