换妻社区

Published December 11, 2025

CAPTION: LaFaye Price, 75, becomes one of the oldest graduates in the history of 换妻社区. Her journey is marked by perseverance, the love of her family, and the support of 换妻社区 faculty.

Photos by Alaina Herron, 换妻社区 Office of Marketing and Communications听

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By Adam McDonald, 换妻社区 Office of Marketing and Communications

Every听day, millions of people mull over the 鈥渨hat ifs?鈥澨齩f their lives: 鈥淲hat if I had taken that job? What if I had moved to that听city?听What if I had finished my degree?鈥澨�听

That last 鈥渨hat if?鈥� is no longer a mystery to 75-year-old Monroe resident听LaFaye听Price.听On Saturday, Price will walk across the stage at Fant-Ewing Coliseum and receive her bachelor鈥檚 degree in general studies from 换妻社区, making her one of the oldest听graduates in the history of the university.听听

An听accomplishment decades听in the making, Price says her graduation听wouldn鈥檛听have been possible without the support听and encouragement听of her family and听a drive to finish that never went away.听听

Born in Farmerville in 1950, Barbara听LaFaye听Price moved to Monroe听after marrying听in 1969 at the age of 19.听She spent her 20s and 30s raising her three children,听Dee听Dee, Nichole, and Christopher,听with her听husband,听Roy Price.听听

In the late 1980s, when her youngest child had entered junior high, Price began the journey to her bachelor鈥檚 degree at 换妻社区 (then NLU).听She worked toward her degree for a couple of years, juggling on-campus classes听and a full-time job as secretary and bookkeeper at Calvary Baptist Church, along with听her children鈥檚 extracurricular activities. 鈥淚 have to admit I just felt defeated,鈥� said Price. 鈥淚 had to let something go, and听it wasn鈥檛 going to be my kids.鈥� At that point, Price put her college career on hold and focused on her family听and her work.听听听

Throughout the next three decades, the thought of finishing her degree was always in the back of Price鈥檚 mind. Her children married,听which led to eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren (so far).听Life moved forward, but she always knew she wanted to earn her diploma.听听

In 2021, Price re-enrolled at 换妻社区. 鈥淚 just decided I鈥檓 going to do this and get it done,鈥� she said.听She started out with the goal of obtaining her associate鈥檚 degree, which she earned in听the听fall听of听2022. She then听decided the听associate鈥檚听degree听wasn鈥檛听enough, so she听continued听toward her bachelor鈥檚 degree in general studies.听听

During this time, Price听has听continued to work full-time as an administrative assistant at East Ouachita Middle School, where she has been for nine years, after working for five years at Ouachita Junior High.听听

鈥淚鈥檝e听had some people ask me, 鈥榃hy are you doing this to yourself?鈥�,听and I tell them I feel like I鈥檓 doing this听for听myself, not听to听myself,鈥� said Price. She encourages others who are considering going back to college to 鈥渏ust do听it.鈥�听

Many people choose to pursue their education because they are inspired by someone they love.听LaFaye听Price cites her older sister as part of her inspiration to earn her degree.听Price鈥檚 sister was diagnosed with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and currently lives in a memory care facility in Georgia. Her sister holds听several degrees, including a master鈥檚,听and always encouraged Price听to finish her education. 鈥淚 was able to tell her what I was doing while she was still able to understand it, and it made her very happy,鈥� said Price. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a joy to me to be able to make her happy.鈥澨�听

Price also听recognizes her children as a constant source of encouragement. Her two daughters are in education, and both received master鈥檚 degrees from 换妻社区, while her son works in manufacturing and teaches industrial safety classes.听听

Dee听Dee听Wiles, Price鈥檚 oldest daughter, says she is extremely proud to watch her mother graduate with her bachelor鈥檚 degree.听鈥淪he听truly loves听to learn and thrives on staying academically active, engaging with her professors and fellow students,鈥� said Wiles.听听

Price鈥檚 youngest daughter, Nichole Crim, shares her sister鈥檚 pride in their mother. 鈥淪he is very inspirational to me and others. She has encouraged me to be a lifelong learner and听to always be brave听enough听to try hard things,鈥� said Crim.听听

鈥淚 am very proud of my mother鈥檚 accomplishment,鈥� said Christopher Price. 鈥淚 wish she听had听done it sooner, but I am glad that she finally did something for herself after taking care of everyone else,鈥� he听added.听听

Both sisters say they have enjoyed having detailed discussions with their mother about her classes and assignments. 鈥淲e鈥檝e听had some lively debates, and听I genuinely feel that听I鈥檝e听benefited听from her decision to return to school. We encourage her by listening, offering words of affirmation, and reminding her that we fully support her,鈥� said Wiles. 鈥淚 love listening to her share about what she is learning,听what she is reading, and comments from her professors. She听doesn鈥檛听just do the work;听she does it to the best of her ability and holds herself to听very high听standards,鈥� added Crim.听听

While Price鈥檚 classes have been taken online, she said she has听greatly enjoyed听the interaction with her fellow students who are听in听different times听of their lives.听She鈥檚听also made it a point to听experience a bit of campus life by听enjoying听regular meals at Shulze Dining Hall, often with her family. 鈥淪he absolutely lights up when she is there,鈥� said Wiles.听听

With two degrees now to her name, Price has not slowed down and is currently pursuing her third, a master鈥檚 degree in gerontology with a concentration in grief management, which she hopes to complete in the fall of 2026.听She became interested in the field while taking classes for her general studies degree and decided to keep going.听听

鈥淚 want this degree because I want to be able to help people. I want to be of听assistance. Even if it is just volunteering at听different places, I just want to help,鈥� said Price. As part of her coursework, she has volunteered at a local senior living facility, which reminds her of her sister.听听鈥淪omehow I鈥檓 connected to my sister through this whole process,鈥� said Price.听听

When asked how it feels to be one of the oldest graduates in 换妻社区 history, Price听says, "It听makes me feel good because I feel like听I鈥檝e accomplished something so many people could if they would just do it.鈥�听

鈥淚t鈥檚 been听a good ride.听I鈥檝e听had a lot of great professors,鈥� said Price, noting that Dr.听Robyn听Jordan, Assistant Professor of Gerontology,听has been听鈥渟o encouraging.鈥澨�鈥淪he writes听great听comments, and not just one comment;听she goes the extra mile,鈥� added Price.听听

鈥淚 love having Mrs. Price in my classes,鈥� said Jordan. 鈥淪he brings a unique perspective to her work and participation in the class, one informed by her life experience and wisdom gained along the way.听It鈥檚听obvious that hers is a life well-lived.鈥澨�听

鈥淚 am so thankful听for the wonderful professors at 换妻社区 who have been so gracious and kind to my mom throughout her college journey,鈥� said听Crim.听听Wiles agreed, adding, 鈥淢y heart is filled with gratitude for the professors who have shown patience, kindness, and encouragement, helping her achieve accomplishments she once only dreamed听of.鈥澨�听

Price says the support and encouragement of her children have听carried her through her educational journey.听鈥淚t鈥檚 meant听so much.听They鈥檙e听really听pleased. They feel like听I鈥檓听living out a dream I needed to do,鈥� said Price.听听

Price says her new degree and the master鈥檚 she is pursuing听won鈥檛听change her current career path.听鈥淚 really like what I do,鈥� said Price, of her job at East Ouachita. 鈥淚 have no plans听for听retirement." She is hopeful that her current studies in grief management could听allow her to be helpful to students at her school who need听assistance.听听

In her spare time, Price continues to serve in a volunteer capacity as a secretary and bookkeeper for Calvary Baptist Church,听where she was full-time for 40 years. She also served as an organist during that time and听served as worship leader and choir director for over 15 years, until recently stepping down from that role.听She says she will also continue to pursue her passion听of听playing听golf for as long as she is able. 鈥淚鈥檓听not good at golf, but I love it.听It鈥檚听one of the most peaceful times for me and a wonderful getaway,鈥� said Price.听听

Price鈥檚 legacy of life-long learning is听evident听in the way her children speak about her experience. 鈥淚 think others could learn a lot from her. We can all find something we are passionate about and听find ways to continue to grow and learn,鈥� said Crim.听听

鈥淪eeing her reach this milestone鈥攁nd听immediately听set and pursue a new one鈥攔eminds me that听it鈥檚听never too late to take a leap, whether in education, travel, a career, or anything your heart听desires.听I鈥檓听so excited for her to听accomplish听her dreams,鈥� said Wiles.听鈥淪he spent so many years caring for her family, and now she is finally taking time to care for herself and follow her own passions. I love her deeply, and it is an honor to call her not only my mother, but also my best friend.鈥�听

For听LaFaye听Price, the 鈥渨hat if?鈥� has been answered. She has听accomplished听something she has always wanted to do and听is now feeling the gratification of the reward.听听

鈥淚t鈥檚 made听me feel good about myself.听It鈥檚 made me hopeful that I have the ability to help other people.听That鈥檚听my goal in life, to help people.鈥�听

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