Matilda Rice

Matilda R. Rice, age 97, of Meridian, passed away Tuesday morning, November 25, 2014, in a Clifton nursing facility.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, November 29, 2014, in the Meridian First United Pentecostal Church with Rev. Joe Huffman, Rev. Greg Hardin and Rev. Tim Kelley officiating. Burial was in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Walnut Springs.

A visitation was held from 6 to 8 P.M., Friday, November 28, 2014, in the Lawson Funeral Home Chapel.

Serving as pallbearers were William C. Rice, Jr., Shane Rice, Jay Brown, Christopher Rice, Curtis Rice, Glenn Cogburn, Randy Rice and Tyler Stubbs.

Matilda was born August 20, 1917, near Cranfills Gap, Texas.. She married Hubert G. Rice on June 16, 1934, in Walnut Springs, Texas, and he preceded her in death on August 2, 1998. She was a homemaker and a very active and faithful member of the United Pentecostal Church in Meridian.

She is survived by her children, Thelma L. White and husband, Gerald, of Lincoln, NE, William C. Rice, Sr. and wife, Marcia Jean, of Clifton, Rebekah J. Elmore and husband, Nathan, of Arlington, Susan L. Brown of Plano and Rodney D. Rice and wife, Tracy JoAnn, of Clifton; 21 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Lucille Simmons of Breckenridge; daughter-in-law, Anna Doris Rice of Robinson; son-in-law, Bill Adams of Texarkana; number of nieces, nephews, a host of other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Clark Royal and Lillie Valdeen Rosenquist Royal Waldrep; husband, Hubert G. Rice; sons, Joseph Glenn Rice and Bobby Weldon Rice; daughter, Freda Lois Adams; brother, Edwin B. Royal; sisters, Gladys Rice and Altus Ridings; a great-great-grandchild, Kynadi Buzbee.

Memorials may be made to: Tueplo Children's Mansion, 1801 E. Main Street, Tueplo, MS, 38804; Life Tabernacle Building Fund, P.O. Box 4767, Lincoln, Neb., 68504; Goodall-Witcher Nursing Facility, 101 S. Ave. T, Clifton, Texas, 76634.


Thoughts and memories may be shared with the family at www.lawsonfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, 254-435-2792