words by natalie mesgleski
belonging to what is known as the golden islands, st. Simons Island is tucked away 100 miles off the Georgia coast and is the home of author Eugenia Price’s beloved stories. known as ‘genius’ to close friends, and known to put st. simons on the map; Eugenia Price started a new life for herself on this small island, writing stories about the people who once lived there, long before she stumbled upon it herself.
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Born June 1916 in Charleston, West Virginia, Eugenia Price didn’t always dream of being a writer, or living in Georgia. Following her father, she set out to study dentistry at Northwest Dental School, and as one of the only women in her class, but this was short-lived and she soon dropped out to pursue her dream as a dentist. writer.
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Price also changed belief systems around this same time. Before her revelation in 1949, she had considered herself to be an atheist—but that year she converted to Christianity. It was a pivotal moment for her writing career as well, and it marked the start of a new chapter.
price became a non-fiction author of Christian books, and did quite well in that genre, soon becoming a best-selling author. During this time of new beginnings, she moved away from her hometown of West Virginia and began calling Chicago home. Price was an avid baseball fan and extremely loyal to the Chicago Cubs, she often attended games and preferred spring training to world travel, until she moved to St. Simons Island and she switched her allegiance to the Atlanta Braves. She was so dedicated to her team that she attended practices, and she even received the honor of throwing her first pitch at a home game in 1981. But this isn’t a baseball story, it’s about what what st Simons and the South gave her stories about ordinary people that she wrote about extraordinarily well.
the move to st. simons happened by chance. While driving from West Virginia to Florida on a 1961 book tour, Eugenia and a friend noticed they had extra time on their hands, so the two decided to stop in Georgia. they found the small island of st. Simons, with its mossy oaks and sprawling marshland and shoreline, and Price fell in love instantly. The first thing that caught his attention was the church of Christ. the church was built in 1820, but collapsed during the civil war, until a man arrived. This man would play a crucial role in Price’s career and her life decades after his death.
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anson green phelps dodge jr. They shared the same love for Christ Church at the time that Price felt, and seeing it fall to ruin inspired Dodge Jr. to restore the church. Thoroughly intrigued by the life buried beneath her, Price set out to learn more about the passion behind the renovation. her research produced the first book in what would become a trilogy, a series she didn’t know she was writing at the time. beloved invader was written first, followed by new moon rising. lighthouse was the last installment written, but is meant to be read first in the trilogy from a historical perspective.
Not many are familiar with Price’s life and stories these days, and that is why Ronda Rich, best-selling author and columnist, is hoping to change that. What you may not know is that it was both Anson Green Phelps Dodge Jr and Eugenia Price that immensely impacted Ronda’s life and her decision to become a writer. Having read and loved the trilogy as a young girl, she was drawn to Christ Church to find the final resting place of Dodge, Jr. Quietly searching the headstones on a field trip to the island, young Ronda came face to face with Eugenia Price. After a very meaningful conversation, Rich knew that she wanted to also be a writer. So, being able to honor Eugenia and re-tell her story is something very special to her. With help from her husband John Tinker, TV producer and writer, the two are working closely with The Coastal Georgia Foundation on the Georgia coast to keep her legacy alive. The Coastal Georgia Foundation owns the copyright to over 50 titles of Eugenia Price’s, and with the help of Rich and Tinker, Price’s philanthropic legacy lives on. The royalties associated with book sales are put back into the local arts and humanities in the community through grants. A documentary that celebrates the life of Eugenia Price is in its early stages. If you are interested in learning more or have stories, moments or memories to share, please contact the Foundation at info@coastalgeorgiafoundation.org.
you can visit st. simons island through the stories of eugenia price—or making the trip to st simons island itself. If you make the trip, fall in love with the island as Eugenia Price with a visit to Christ Church and Lighthouse, and be sure to catch Eugenia’s documentary when it hits the screen!
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