December 8, 1934 - February 11, 2024
Funeral service for Deacon EmeritusDr. Prince Preyer, Jr.will be Monday, February 19, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church with The Reverend Dr. Don Darius Butler officiating. Dr. Preyer will lie in repose at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Interment: Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Visitation - Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. until 5 p.m. from Nelms Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.
Use this link to view funeral service via Live Stream: https://boxcast.tv/channel/nsnk3kgx2pvlwrxcsmee
OBITUARY
Prince Preyer, Jr. was born on December 8, 1934, in Monroeville, Alabama, to the union of the late Theola Ridgill Preyer and Prince Preyer, Sr. Prince was the eldest son of 6 siblings. Prince was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Charles Preyer and Willie “Pat” Preyer, and one sister, Mary Louise Preyer Mayhand. He peacefully departed this life on February 11, 2024.
Prince accepted Jesus Christ as his savior as a young man and was baptized at the Morning Star Baptist Church in Monroeville, Alabama. Throughout his young adult life, he always sought a church home and was faithful in his membership. In 1964, he and wife, Mary Savage, welcomed their pride and joy and only child, Prince Anthony. Prince moved his family to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1970, and joined the First Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and faithful member until his death. As a faithful servant of the Lord, Prince also served on the Official Board and was a regular attendee of Sunday school.
Prince attended schools in Monroeville for the first through twelfth grades, where he participated in numerous extracurricular activities and programs. He graduated with honors from Monroeville Rosenwald High School in 1954. Prince excelled academically throughout his school years and set high goals for his academic pursuits. After graduating from Rosenwald High, Prince enrolled at Alabama A&M College, now Alabama A&M University, in Huntsville, Alabama, and majored in Agriculture. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in 1958, he earned a Master of Science in Agriculture from Tuskegee University in 1971 and a Ph.D. in Agriculture Mechanization from Iowa State University in 1976.
Dr. Preyer began his teaching career shortly after receiving his bachelor’s degree. He taught for a year at the Emmanuel Brown Training School in Dallas County, Alabama, before moving to Tipton High School in Selma, Alabama, from 1959 to 1970. In 1970, Dr. Preyer began his college teaching career at Alabama A&M University and was a dedicated educator and mentor to many students for almost two decades. Dr. Preyer was regarded as one of the finest educators, and his prowess was evident in his departmental leadership. Under his guidance, the department flourished and saw significant increases in both undergraduate and graduate enrollment. At his retirement from academia in 1988, he was Professor and Chair of the Agribusiness Department at Alabama A&M University. Dr. Preyer dedicated his next chapter to serving his community and those right outside his front door.
Becoming the proud first African American elected to the Madison County Commission since Reconstruction, Dr. Preyer served as Commissioner for District 6 for sixteen years. Always an educator, Dr. Preyer continued his life’s work uplifting minority youth by initiating social programs aimed at addressing their specific needs. Two of the most successful programs were the COARM program for at-risk youth and the Phoenix Program, which focused on youth and their parents as a family unit. He was also most proud of the widespread success of the annual Job-a-thon that assisted over 5,000 youth in Madison County in finding summer jobs for many years. He actively and successfully obtained funding for District 6 through federal grants totaling over 13 million dollars. These funds enhanced the various social programs while improving the quality of life for residents of north Huntsville. Under Dr. Preyer’s leadership, a proud AAMU bulldog, the Madison County Commission District 6 contributed over five million dollars for the completion of the Lewis Crews Stadium and the Ernest Knight Living Learning Center at Alabama A&M University. He also used his influence to save millions of dollars in site preparation for the construction of the stadium.
Dr. Preyer’s successful career spanned over five decades deeply touching many lives while significantly pouring into his community. In his first term as commissioner, long before community gardens were trending, Dr. Preyer dreamed up a large community garden in North Huntsville that would feed all of District 6 and more. His heart as an educator, combined with a profound passion (obsession) for gardening, fueled a determined Dr. Preyer to address the food disparity in the community. He knew he could teach anybody how to grow, harvest, preserve, and prepare fresh fruits and vegetables because he didn’t want anyone to experience hunger or food insecurity. He proudly welcomed all who wished to see the ever-expanding community garden and ensured they left with more vegetables than they could fit in a car.
Prince, Dad, Dr. Preyer, Uncle P, Grandaddy was a dedicated family man, a loving father, son, brother, uncle, and a beaming and doting grandfather. Serious about his role as the eldest brother of the family, he readily gave support, advice, and encouragement. He deeply loved his family and was intentional in supporting the young people in his life. His daily life embodied Luke 12:48, to whom much is given, much is required. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on for generations to come.
He leaves to cherish his memory a loving son and daughter-in-love, Prince Anthony Preyer and Debbie Preyer. Three loving grandchildren, Desiree Smith of Atlanta, Georgia; Decoruise Preyer (Sharetha); and Devin Prince Preyer, both of Huntsville, Alabama. Two great-grandsons, Decoruise Preyer, Jr. and Blaze Preyer, and one great-granddaughter, Kensley Preyer. Loving and devoted siblings, Vergie Mae Nettles of Daphne, Alabama; Johnny Preyer, Sr. (Joyce) of Dallas, Georgia; and Ann Preyer Warren (Larry) of Huntsville, Alabama. Caring nieces and nephews, Millicent Diane Boyd of Rock Hill, South Carolina; Johnny Preyer, Jr. (Tami) of Kennesaw, Georgia; Tristian Seegars (fiancée Ravneet Kaur) of Houston, Texas; Dr. Angela Warren Baumann (Brice) and Andrea Warren Tullis (Waymon), both of Gardendale, Alabama; Walter Nettles; George Nettles, Jr.; Thomas Nettles; Ernest Nettles (Mary); Ricky Nettles (Cynthia); Deloris Brown (Sammie); Alice Barge (Malcolm), all of Daphne, Alabama. Twelve great-nieces, 13 great-nephews, 17 great-great nephews, 5 great-great nieces; and 3 great-great-great nieces. And a host of caring cousins, friends, former colleagues, and church family.
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