Craig Lee Price

April 25, 1949 - July 26, 2008
Craig Lee Price, 59, of Angier, died peacefully Saturday, July 26, 2008 at his home in the company of his family and friends. During the preceding year and a half, Craig fought a valiant fight against pancreatic cancer, all the while embracing every precious moment he spent with family and friends. He never lost faith or hope, and to that end, he served as an inspiration to all who knew him.
Born in Raleigh, April 25, 1949, Craig was the son of the late R.C. and Lois Pilgrim Price. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in education, with concentrations in English and History, from Campbell College in 1971. Several years later, be returned to Campbell (now University), graduating from the School of Music in 1982, having completed graduate studies in choral conducting, vocal pedagogy, accompanying and coaching.
Throughout his life, music was both Craig's passion and his profession. He spent his summers from 1969 to 1982 in Manteo, singing and portraying various roles in Paul Greene's The Lost Colony. From 1971 to 1980 be taught and directed music at St. Timothy's School in Raleigh and founded the music department at Hale High School. For four years, he toured Europe, Canada and the United States, conducting and performing at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris; on the BBC talk show Pebble Mill at One in Birmingham, England; at National Cathedral in Washington, DC; in The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York; and at the Waikiki Shell and the Kamehameba School in Honolulu, Hawaii. During the fall and winter of 1983, he sang and danced in Ira David Wood's A Christmas Carol. For more than two decades, Craig served as the Minister of Music in area churches, fulfilling that role most recently in his beloved Four Oaks United Methodist Church, where be conducted the choir for 10 years.
In 1989, Craig became a successful restauranteur and caterer, opening Seven Sisters in downtown Angier. He took an old dilapidated building, which originally was his father's first diner, and transformed it into a fine-dining establishment, which became known for its popular, dinner shows. Seven Sisters earned a loyal following and was the subject of feature articles in The News and Observer (1998) and Our State (2007)
Craig is survived by his life partner, Henry Ogburn; sister, Susanne Price Altman and husband, Danny Altman; brother, Mike Price and wife, Bonita Price; beloved nephew, Christopher Craig Altman; beautiful nieces, Amy Price and Magen Price McLean and husband, John McLean; a host of fellow musicians; Pastor Joey and Julie Yow and his steadfast church family, and many loving friends.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Four Oaks United Methodist Church Music Program, P.O. Box 177, Four Oaks, NC 27524 or to The Lost Colony, Craig Price Seat Endowment, 1409 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC 27954.
To celebrate his life, a worship memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning, August 3, 2008 at Four Oaks United Methodist Church, Four Oaks, NC, with fellowship meal and visitation following.
Committal will be at the Angier Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.

A note from the Director
Always fill your heart with love. Always embrace life and the music that it creates. Travel the less traveled road, love unconditionally, and laugh so hard that you bring joy everywhere you go! Thank you all for a lifetime of support, good fellowship, hard work and wonderful times. Always keep the love of God and mankind in your heart. I love you all so much and my heart will always be full of joy, fellowship and love, which is unconditional and everlasting.
Embrace the music
Craig