John Lee Prine
89, Hattiesburg
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on May 20, at Rawls Springs Baptist Church for John Lee Prine, 89, of Hattiesburg, who passed away on May 13, with his son, John Mark, and wife of 67 years, Paula Shotts Prine, at his side. Mark was reading his favorite scripture, Psalms 23. Burial will follow in Rawls Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the services on Saturday, May 20, at Rawls Springs Baptist Church. 
He was born to Roy Lee and Mabel Bryant Prine on May 4, 1934, in Morgantown. He grew up in the Bunker Hill community of Marion County and graduated from Bunker Hill High School in 1953. He began his military career in December 1951 when he enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard 's 193rd Transportation Company in Columbia. He transferred to the 3656th Ordnance Company at Camp Shelby in February 1955.
In August 1969, he transferred to the 114th Area Support Group in Hattiesburg. While a member of the 114th Area Support Group, he served as the unit's first sergeant and was appointed in May 1972 to the rank of chief warrant officer II. He retired from military service at the rank of chief warrant officer V on May 3, 1994.
In a civilian capacity, he was employed by the Mississippi Army National Guard at Camp Shelby from 1954 until 1998. He was a long-time member of Rawls Springs Baptist Church. He served on many committees and worked with the youth for several years. He was a deacon and served as the chairman of the deacons and as a church trustee. He served as the moderator of the Lebanon “Pine Belt” Baptist Association. He, along with other community leaders, chartered the Rawls Springs Utility District that provides water and sewer service to the community. Additionally, he was instrumental in the community receiving natural gas service and the establishment of the volunteer fire department. He served as the chief of the volunteer department for several years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Lee and Mabel Bryant Prine; brothers, Jimmy Roy and Isaac Marion, and sister, Alice Hinds.
Survivors include his wife, Paula Shotts Prine; son, John Mark Prine (Judy) of Rawls Springs; grandson, John Joshua Caleb Prine of Brandon; granddaughter, Mary Grace Prine of Rawls Springs; sister, Lovis Mae Hicks (Tiny) of Hattiesburg, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of John Prine to the Rawls Springs Cemetery Fund, 55 Rawls Springs Rd., Hattiesburg, Miss. 39402, or the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum, Building 850, Camp Shelby, Miss. 39407.
