Sheila Randolph Price

She was born on May 13, 1926, in the Panama Canal Zone to Dorothy Layland, an English pianist, and Sydney Randolph, an engineer from Louisiana. She grew up in Balboa, where she met and married James H. Price, and had their first two children, Pamela and James. The family later moved to Chuquicamata, Chile, an Anaconda copper mining town, where their third child, Patricia, was born.

After 25 years in Chile, Sheila and James relocated to Arizona. When she inherited the family home on Martha’s Vineyard, they divided their time between both places. They spent extended vacations in Spain with Patricia and her family and did a lot of travelling to visit friends and family. Following the loss of her beloved husband of 50 years, she continued to commute and take trips. Pamela was her best friend and companion.

Over the course of her remarkable life, Sheila transitioned from a tropical rainforest to the driest desert on earth, from sea level to 10,000 feet, and across four different countries on three continents. Wherever she went, she connected with ease and grace with people from different backgrounds.

Sheila was a gifted swimmer and, in her 60s, performed with a water ballet group. She swam and snorkeled in waters of Panama, Chile, Ibiza, Hawaii, Antigua, Martha’s Vineyard and the Philippines.

Throughout her life she admired the beauty of nature, especially the birds on Martha’s Vineyard. She also loved music and dancing, and was always ready for a card or board game—even at the age of 99.

For the last 12 years of her life, she lived in a senior living residence, in Virginia, near Pamela, and James and Sue (and their family), enjoying the comfort of being close to her loved ones. Pamela and granddaughter Monica were frequent visitors, ensuring Sheila’s well being. Thanks to today’s technology, Patricia was able to be very present by telephone, video and eventually surveillance cameras.

Sheila is lovingly remembered by her three children and their spouses, Pamela, James and Sue, Patricia and David; her grandchildren Michael, Monica, Karen, and David; and her great-grandchildren Hudson, Sadie, Alyssa, Kiley, Eric, and Alvaro. Throughout her long life, Sheila was admired for her generosity, warmth and graciousness. She always placed the needs of others before her own and will be remembered for the kindness and charm that defined her.

Her memory will live on in all who loved her.