OBITUARY: James Earl Rice
James Earl Rice was born in Providence, Ky., on Oct. 28, 1948, to Hershel Edward Rice (deceased) and Lou Annie Stokes Rice.
To this union, in addition to James Earl was Gracie Rice, and Anna Rice, of Bowling Green, Ky.; three sisters, Goldie (deceased) (Frank) Johnson, Betty (deceased) (Henry Clay) all of Cleveland, Ohio; Geneva (James) Summroell, Dayton Ohio, Earlene (James) (deceased) Nashville, Tenn.; and one brother, Leonard (Imgard)(deceased), of Clarksville, Tenn.
James attended Rosenwald School in Providence, Ky. After high school he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to live with his grandfather, James Patrick Stokes and later joined the US Marine Corps where he served in Vietnam. After the military James lived in Hawaii for five years and worked for Sheraton Hotels. While in Hawaii he attended Masonry School and Barbering School. In 1975 he moved back to Kentucky where he started a 25-year career in underground coal mining.
James accepted Christ at an early age and then rededicated his life to the Lord in 1989 when he became a deacon of the Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church and taught Sunday school to the junior boys. James was a member of the New Paradise Baptist Church in San Diego, Calif., the Rev. James Moore Jr., Pastor.
On May 29, 1982, he married Nona (Moss) Rice, who survives, in Harrisburg, where they resided for 30 years. April 2012, they moved to San Diego, Calif., and recently moved May 1, 2014, to Atlanta, Ga., to be closer to family and friends.
James is survived by two daughters, Megan (Tyron) Lee of Atlanta, Ga., Mika Whitlock (Greg) of Las Vegas, Nev., Brandon A. Rice (Jaimie) of Evansville, Ind., and James Patrick Rice (Sarah) Herrin.
He is also survived by five granddaughters, Marissa Zell, Meghan and Madison Barber of Las Vegas, Nev., and Briasia Andrews of Atlanta, Ga., Ryanna Bullard of Herrin; and one grandson, James Kelly of Las Vegas, Nev.
James was a great provider for his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He also loved spending time with his friends. He was an avid sports fan of the UK Wildcats and NFL Pittsburg Steelers. He enjoyed traveling until he became disabled and ill where the dialysis limited his travel. He fought the good fight of faith and remained strong and was determined to the very end. He was surrounded by his wife Nona and family members when God called him home at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Ga., 11:57 a.m. Saturday, May 31, 2014. He fought a good fight with FAITH.
Funeral will be at Reed Funeral Chapel, 503 East Sloan Street, Harrisburg at 1 p.m. Saturday. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. Burial will be at Sunset Lawn Cemetery, Bishop Albert L Ingram officiating. Repast will be at Harrisburg T & C Lions Club, 1400 S. Main St., Harrisburg.