Arrangements have been finalized
Just got home from the mortuary, and wanted to let you all know the plan. McDougald Funeral Home (in Anderson) is handling everything, and we will be there at the mortuary Thursday evening, Aug. 7, to receive friends from 6 to 8 pm. In case you need to get directions, their address is 2211 North Main St, Anderson. The phone number there is (864) 224-4343. This will be the time to speak to Mom if you’re wanting to do that…because of the nature of the arrangements, there really won’t be a chance to do that at the funeral.
The funeral will be on Friday, Aug. 8 at 2 pm at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Greenville. That address is 3931 White Horse Rd, Greenville. He will lie in state in the sanctuary of Tabernacle on Friday from noon until 2 pm. We’ll have a private family graveside service following the funeral.
Dad really made this decision process easy on us, because he handled much of it ahead of time. He had clearly communicated alot of his wishes to Mom, so that has made this much easier for all of us. One of his main requests was that it be a time of celebration. He would want it to be upbeat and happy, not sad and depressing. Please come ready to celebrate his wonderful life and ministry, and to praise God with us for the gift that he was to all of us.
We look forward to seeing you,
The Rices
Our family has been greatly blessed by Dr. Rice’s preaching and friendship through the years. Dr. Rice loved people and he always had time for them. A favorite memory I have of Dr. Rice was his willingness to take me as a single, beginning teacher to look for a car. He knew just the right used car lot. One afternoon before school began, he and Mrs. Rice took me to find, test drive, and buy my first car.
While teaching at Oakwood, my life was challenged and encouraged through Dr. Rice’s messages. After reading Charity’s note this morning about her dad’s Bible, I decided to look in my “retired” Bible for message notes of Dr. Rice’s preaching. I was blessed as I read and remembered messages and quotes by Dr. Rice in my Bible. I praise the Lord for his life and the legacy he leaves. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this sad and happy time of his home going. May God continue to sustain you all.
With Love and Prayers,
Mary and Ed Frampton and family
To all the Dear Rice family, We don’t know each other but years ago in the late 80′s I heard Bro.Rice preach at a camp-meeting up in Travelers Rest several nites and again heard more of his preaching via cassette tapes I picked up at Tabernacle. I was greatly blessed and I still have those tapes and consider them treasure. I remember him preaching out of Daniel about Nebuchadnezzar and his dreams.He always called him “old Neb”….in his own distinct style. I am both saddened and gladdened by his homegoing and after reading the blog about the days leading up to it I feel like shouting a bit and praising God for the love you and your family have shared with us all.It’s shouting time in Heaven.God bless you all!!
Greg Perry Sr.
Pickens,SC
Dear Family, tho I am saddened, I want to rejoice with you! Can’t you just picture him shaking hands and huggin’ everyone? His stories and jokes will be missed, but as I look around at our circumstances here on earth, look up Church, Jesus is coming soon!”Is that footsteps that I hear?”
Charity, I love you and have missed you so. I have been blessed by your blog as it has given me a small glimpse into a family that I’ve cherished for these many years. In Christ, Kim
Dear Rice family, I know that this has been a long hard road for you all and my thoughts and prayers are with you. You have all been very special to me for many , many years. This blog has been a special way to feel like I’m there with you. God bless
My prayers are with your family in this hour. Dr. Rice was a great blessing and help to me as a young preacher and taught me many things in our brief times together at meetings where I served as Asst. Pastor. His love, compassion, and discernment assisted me in making good decisions in taking my first church — now 20 years later. He was a very special blessing!!!
May God grant you strngth for the days ahead!
I just checked up on you all-behind for days(as usual)-and saw your news. Of course it has made me very sad but just reading the positive attitude and out-look of your entire family is uplifting. Although I do not and may not see you all again other than on the web, you all are very special to me and the impact that your family made in my life, I will always think of your family. Sending our love and prayers, Connie and the Riddle family.
Dr. Rice was a blessing to me as my principal at Tabernacle and then later as my pastor and mentor at Oakwood Christian School and at the church. He meant a great deal to my family. My father, George Lindsey, also wants to pass on his regards as well.
Dr. Rice was a huge support to us in several difficult times, and we always appreciated his big smile and his ready wit. I am sad for you all, but I thrilled for Dr. Rice. He finally had seen the face of his Saviour.
I had hesitated to leave a comment here, because probably the only one who would even know who I am is Phyllis. But I wanted you all to know what memories I have of your husband and father, although it’s been a very long time since I’ve seen him. My dad, Jack Holden, was a student of Dr. Rice’s at Tabernacle way back in the mid-70s. During my dad’s first pastorate, he asked Dr. Rice to come and preach a revival for us. I remember having him in our home for meals. The most vivid memory is my mother baking a cake, hoping it would come out perfect, but it fell, miserably so. My mother was so embarrassed to serve cake crumbles to our guest, but Dr. Rice just said, “It was just so good it couldn’t hold itself together!” A silly memory, I’m sure, but it shows what a gracious man Dr. Rice was.
My mother died not long after that revival with Dr. Rice. I can’t help but believe that she was in the crowd welcoming him to Heaven this week! Heaven grows sweeter every day. My prayers are with your family this week. May you each find sweet comfort in our Lord and His promises!
Mrs. Rice and Family;
our prayers are with you in these days, our church family was sadden by the home going of Dr. Rice. Through the years of coming to our church many of them got to know and love Brother Rice. He was a true preachers friend, and a help to our ministries. Thank you for sharing him with so many people. I’m glad to be able to call brother Rice my friend.
Ray Morris
Pastor 49th st. Baptist Church
Anniston, Al.