East Fayette Elem. names media center

By CAROLYN CARY
ccary@TheCitizenNews.com

East Fayette Elementary School has named its media center for a longtime teacher at the school, the late Senior DeVaughn Price.

When Senior Price retired from teaching in 1969, her career had spanned from the "one room" schoolhouse to classrooms divided by individual grade levels.

Coming to Fayette County as a bride in 1932, she taught the primary grades of first through third grade through the Fayette County School System prior to desegregation. She had married Fayette County native William Thomas "Buddy" Price and they lived and reared their family on Bernhard Road, off Ga. Highway 85 south. Her teaching career spanned 40 years, and she taught many generations of African-American school children.

Her grandfather, Sandy DeVaughn, joined the United States Colored Troops in 1863 in Fort Scott, Kansas, during the Civil War and served in the 83rd Regiment Infantry. When he was discharged in 1865, he moved to Douglas County, became an African Methodist Episcopal minister and founded a school at which "Miss Senior" began her early education. She attended Booker T. Washington and Morris Brown high Schools in the summers and evenings.

By taking a bus to Fort Valley State College on the weekends and returning to teach during the week, she earned her bachelor of science degree in 1960.

When the schools for African-American children were consolidated, she began teaching at the newly built Fayette County Training School, which is now East Fayette Elementary School. The original training school was built in the early 1950s. She taught here for the last 12 years of her teaching career.

She died June 18, 1985, at 79.

A program was held at the school to dedicate the media center in her name and it was attended by many direct descendants and former students.

Fayette County School Superintendent John DeCotis, East Fayette Principal Faith Hardnett, and Fayette County Board of Education Chairman Terri Smith spoke, as well as Price's children, grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.