Prince merits volunteer honor

Growing up in the small mill town of Abbeville, S.C., Sparta resident Larry Prince and his younger brother were raised by a single, working mother.

The young man who received help from neighbors is now a grandfather who was honored last week at Magnolia Manor in Colfax for his volunteer service in Alleghany County.

Prince's honor marks the third consecutive win for the county. Sparta resident Bonnie Vaughan attained the Medallion Award in 2007, followed by the nonprofit organization, Alleghany Christians Associated for Relief and Emergency Services (CARES) earlier this year. Coincidentally, the two individual awardees, as well as CARES, have ties to Sparta United Methodist Church. Of his early years, Prince commented he grew up on leftovers from the school cafeteria, where his mother worked.

"I didn't really know that I was poor," he said. "With my mother's love, we were just treated really good by her, very fair. She dedicated her life to us and that was rewarding for us. I remember growing up having to build fires, not only at the house, but going to the church and building fires at the church on the weekends for the church service. As a boy, trapping rabbits to sell to make some money. It was a fun childhood. I didn't know and didn't realize what I didn't have. I didn't worry about what we didn't have, just enjoyed what we did have."

As an adult, Prince's time was spent working for Wachovia, doing things with his late wife Sara Davis Prince, and doing things with the churches of which he was a member. Sara Prince passed away in 1990.

A little over four years ago, Prince visited his mother in South Carolina. Attending a church service with his mother, Prince met Katrina, who, coincidentally, was in town visiting her mother. The couple later wed. He later noted he would like to thank his wife for allowing him to get involved in local efforts and supporting him as he has done such.

A Prince in Alleghany

Prince moved to Alleghany County upon his retirement about five years ago, after taking three years to build his new home that sits above Sparta. Of his relocation, Prince remarked, "I love Alleghany County; I love the mountains. I was fortunate enough to find this land and this county."

Like a number of newcomers to the area, Prince was asked how he found his way to Sparta. In response he said, "I believe that God sent me here for a reason….I believe that there's things that I can do and ministries that I can get involved in where I can make a difference."