Mrs. Eddie B. Hart - Rice

On October 5, 1937, Sister Eddie B. Hart was born to the late Tommie James and Thelma Hart Johnson of Starkville, Mississippi. Sister Rice departed this life on December 25, 2014 at University of MS Medical Center at 12:35 a.m. She was the oldest of 17 children. On December 22, 1954, she united in holy matrimony to the Joe Nathan Rice, Sr. She dedicated herself as his wife for fifty years until he departed this life in 2004. To this union, eight children were born. Sister Rice confessed Christ at an early age and united with the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church of Crawford, MS. She later united with Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church where she confessed Christ through baptism and dedicated her life to serving Him. She served faithfully as a member of the Usher Ministry and President of the Gospel Choir for many years. Later the choir changed its name to the Mass Choir where she continued to sing praises and glorify God until her health started to decline in 2011. Moreover, she never let her health keep her from worshipping God or her church family. If she felt strong enough to go to church services, she wouldn’t let no one or nothing stop her from going. She loved the Lord and understood the importance of living His will by setting examples for her family and friends to live by. Sister Rice leaves to cherish her memories: three daughters, Eddie Dean Harris (Odie), Loistine Baker (Reverend Ray) and Henrietta Jones, all of Starkville, MS; six sons, Rev. Joe Nathan Rice, Jr. of Starkville MS, Tom Rice (Brenda) of Jackson, MS, James L. Rice (Ann) of Crawford, MS, Rev. Jimmy L. Rice (Evangelist Shavelle Faye) of Starkville, MS. Jerry L Rice of San Francisco, CA; and Zebedee Rice (LaDonna) of Starkville, MS; eight sisters, Pauline Young, Florean Coleman, Shirley Hart, all of Flint, MI, Thelma Brooks (James), of Chicago, IL, Christine Bridges(Walter) and Dorothy Halbert, both of Crawford, MS and Annie B. of Columbus, MS; eight brothers, Tommie James Hart, Sylvester Hart, and Emmitt Hart (Tina), all of Crawford, MS, Jerry Hart (Minnie), Charlie Hart, Jimmy Hart (Faye), Willie Earl Hart, all of Flint MI, and Jeffrey Hart of Sidney, Australia, stepmother-in-law and close friend, Aretha Rice; two sister-in-laws, Pearlie D. Rice and Katie Mae Rice, of Crawford, MS. three brother-in-laws, John Henry Rice (Movita) and Walter Rice, both of Chicago, IL. John A. Rice (Dorothy) of Crawford, MS, and 30 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Sister Rice was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Nathan Rice, Sr., her parents, Tommie James and Thelma Hart, her grandparents, Charlie and Eddie D. Johnson, her sister, Eliza Dantzler, her brother, Otis Hart, her grandson, Odie J. Harris, Jr. and two granddaughters, Lashonda Rice and Beverly Rice, two sister-in-laws, Gladys Hart and Mary Jane Hart, and a brother-in-law, Whitt Coleman.

Mrs. Eddie B. Hart - Rice

October 5, 1937 - December 25, 2014