A Celebratio
Dr.Wilson. Dice, Sr.
fApriC28 ,19 3 9
Tuesday, November 4, 2003 2:00 P.M.
Tabernacle Baptist Church
1223 Laney Walker Boulevard ~ Augusta, Georgia
Reverend Otis B. Moss, III, Pastor ~ Officiating ~

`The Obituary
Our beloved, Wilson L. Rice, Sr., was born in Sylvester, Georgia on April 28, 1939, to the late Robert and Carrie Rice. He departed this life on October 29, 2003, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and entered eternal life with his Heavenly Father.
Affectionately known to many as "Rice," he was a devoted husband to Louise Allen Rice for 38 years; father to Wilson (Elicia) Rice, Jr. of Stone Mountain, Georgia and Christopher (Stephanie) Rice of Columbia, South Carolina; and grandfather to Edward Lamar, Alana Elyse, and Laura-Louise.
In addition to his immediate family, he leaves to mourn brothers and sisters: Carrie Jefferson, Sylvester, Georgia; Eugene (Bertha) Rice, Miami, Florida; Henry Rice, Lake Wales, Florida; Catherine (Jimmie) Anderson, Riverdale, Georgia; Robert (Thelma) Rice, Jr.; and Ernest Rice, Atlanta, Georgia. He will also be mourned by a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Rice was predeceased by brothers, Jimmie Rice and Willie B. Rice and sisters, Hattie Shipp, Mary Rice, and Irene (Vertis) Hill.
He maintained a deep faith in God throughout his entire life and embraced a spirit of Christian service. At the age of 12, Rice was baptized at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Isabella, Georgia. For eleven years, he and Louise have been members of Tabernacle Baptist Church where Rice served faithfully on the Deacon Board.
Having completed his undergraduate studies at Albany State College, he earned a Master of Arts in Mathematics from Michigan State University, an Educational Specialist Degree from Tuskegee University, and the Doctorate of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from South Carolina State University.
During a brief departure from his extensive career in education, Rice entered the business arena and served as manage' ment associate and assistant branch manager at Citizens and Southern National Bank in Augusta, Georgia. His first love, however, was in the educational arena.
A consummate educator and administrator, Rice devoted much of his life to enriching the lives of others. His teaching career spanned 33 years and included all levels from junior high school through college. Additionally, Rice served as head basketball coach at Washington Consolidated High School, John M. Tutt High School, and A.R. Johnson Junior High School where he was also the Director of Athletics. As an administrator in the Richmond County (Georgia) School System for many years, he served as coordinator of the ESAA Program, Assistant Principal at A. R. Johnson Junior High School and Glenn Hills High School, and Principal at William Robinson Elementary School and John W. Houghton Elementary School. Prior to his retirement from the school system in 1999, Rice joined the adjunct faculty at Augusta State University and later taught at Paine College.
A strong sense of community service was a major influence in the life of Wilson Rice. His most notable involvements included: chairman, Parent Advisory Committee for the Board of Education Title I Program; chairman and member of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS) in Richmond County; chairman and vice chairman, Woodgate Homeowners Association; secretary and member of the Board of Directors for the Imperial Theater; representative, United Way; president, Augusta Lions Club; Region III chairman, Lions Club of Georgia, District 18-F; member, Citizens Advisory Council for the Augusta Police Department; and vice chair and member, Augusta Human Relations Commission.
A Connecting Link of the Augusta Chapter of Links, Inc., Rice was also a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and served as Basileus of the Psi Omega Chapter in Augusta.
With an indomitable spirit, Wilson L. Rice, Sr. loved much, worked diligently to help others, and endeavored to leave the world a better place than he found it.

Service o f Cefefration

Reverend Otis B. Moss, III ~ Officiating

Processional Sweet, Sweet Spirit

Sanctuary Choir

Prayer of Comfort

Rev. Jerry Poole
C haplain, Paine C ollege

Scripture Readings Old Testament: Psalm 30: l -5

Rev. Albert James
S econd Providence Baptist C hurch N orth A ugusta, SC

New Testament: John 14:1 -3: 11:25-26

Rev. Otis Cunningham, Sr.
Mt . Pisgah Baptist C hurch G reenwood, SC

Reflections (2-3 Minutes) Neighbor ~ Dr. Ronald Brown
Co'Worker & Fraternity Brother ~ William B. Bryant Former Student ~ Earl Stewart Jr.
Family Member ~ Rev. Robert Rice, Jr. Friends ~ Johnny Harris and Ronnie O. Spry

Selection

Nieces and Nephews

Silent Reading of the Obituary Blessed Assurance

Music Ministry

Acknowledgements

Dr. Cecelia Davidson

Solo Because He Lives

Aliciadine S. Oliphant

Eulogy

Rev. Otis B. Moss, III
Pastor, T abernacle Baptist C hurch

Recessional Yes, God is Real

Sanctuary Choir

Interment

Westover Memorial Park 2601 Wheeler Road ~ Augusta, GA

~ Repast ~ Tabernacle Baptist Church Fellowship Hall

In honor of Wilson Rice's memory, the family is establishing the "Wilson L. Rice Memorial Scholarship fu n d ." Contributions may be mailed to 3340 Wheeler Road, Augusta, Georgia 30909.

tParticipants o f Service

Johnny Harris Ronnie Hill Anthony Stroud, Sr.

Active Pallbearers
Ronnie Shipp

Randy Hill Webbie Hill Melvin Jefferson

Honorary Pallbearers
Deacons of the Tabernacle Baptist Church Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Board of Directors, Augusta Human Relations Commission Board of Directors, Georgia Dept, of Family & Children Services
Augusta Lions Club
Flower Bearers
Links, Inc. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

I'M FR E E
D on't grieve for me, for now I'm free, I'm following the path God laid you see. I took his hand when I heard him call, I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day, To laugh, to love, to work, or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way. I found that place at the close of day. If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah, yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life's been full, I savored much. Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, D on't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me God wanted me now, he set me free.
Author Unknown
~ Acknowledgements ~
The family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many comforting messages, floral tributes, prayers and other expressions of kindness and concern evidenced during the illness and passing of our loved one.
~ T he Rice Family
Funeral Arrangements Entrusted To
Williams Funeral Homey Inc.
2945 Tobacco Road ~ Hephzibah, Georgia

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