SADIE RICE

The world was blessed on December 27, 1934 when Sadie Ann Rice was born to Bonnie Williams Hudson and Frank Lee Hudson (both deceased) in Detroit, MI.  Ann (as known by most family and friends) became a Christian early in life and spent many of her early years playing the piano for the St. Paul Second Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Detroit where her father was a founding member and Elder.

Ann was a very sharp young lady, graduating from high school at the age of sixteen and entering Wayne State University in Detroit, where she would earn a degree in elementary education.  In her lifetime, she would eventually be licensed to teach in Michigan, Tennessee, and Texas – and did teach in schools in these states.

In 1961, she married the Rev. Joel Preston Rice of Lisman, Kentucky.  She would then move from Detroit, MI to Cleveland, TN and become the First Lady of the St. James Second Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where Rev. Joel Rice served as Pastor for nearly 13 years. She would serve as pianist for the Children’s Choir, direct the Christmas pageant, and serve as assistant pianist for the Senior Choir. While living in Cleveland, TN, they became parents of two sons:  Perryn Alloysius Rice and Xavier Kesniel Rice.  Her sons were her greatest joys, and it was seen in all of her qualities as a mother.  While working, she still served in PTAs, and worked as a homeroom mother.  She never missed a play or recital that her sons were in.  Although she never liked them participating in contact sports, she still tried to encourage them to do and be their bests.  Her support for her sons continued through performances, sermons, and graduations.

Ann was often known as the “Kool-Aid” mom because she made the best Kool-Aid on the block.  Her sons’ friends were always welcomed in her family’s home.

In 1977, she would move to Dallas, Texas with her family to support her husband as the Pastor of the Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.  She would place her membership there where it remained until her passing.  At Faith, she would serve as the assistant musician for the Senior Choir, Children’s choir director, and as a member of the Missionary Society.   While at Faith, she saw both of her sons make their Professions of Faith and knowingly begin serving the Lord.  She also took great pride in having her son, Perryn, as her Pastor.

She always wanted a daughter, and gained two when her sons married, Terri Rice (Perryn) and Vickey Rice (Xavier).  If possible, her grandest joy in life was being a grandmother to Jonathan Perryn Rice and Lauren Endia Rice, MeMa’s “Toot-Toots”.  The sun rose and set with them and oh how they love their “MeMa”!  As she supported her sons, as best as she could, she would do the same for her grandchildren.  The joys continued coming when Xavier married Vickey, and her beautiful daughter, Rachel, joined the family.  Then Ann would gain three more delightful blessings with Rachel’s daughters Nakya, Victoria, and Braelyn.

After a successful teaching career, Ann worked for the United States Post Office for nearly twenty years as a mail handler.  One of her goals in life was to have a job so her husband would not have to have jobs outside of pastoring.  This time was a true blessing for her family. She also made a wealth of friends while working there, being involved in some off-campus Bible Studies with her co-workers.

Ann treasured being a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America – third generation.  She loved attending all of the church meetings with her family and friends, until her health began to fail and dialysis severely limited her ability to travel.  She loved being a member of the Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church and desperately wanted to be back there, seeing a vision of this church in her last hours.  But on March 11, 2021, Sis. Sadie Ann Rice joined the Church Triumphant where she’s serving with the greatest choir God’s created.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Frank Lee and Bonnie Hudson, all of her siblings:  Bea Rivers, Grace Long, Floyd Taylor, James Brown, Max Brown, and James Lee Hudson.  Left to cherish her memory are her husband, the Rev. Joel Preston Rice of Dallas, TX; her sons and families, the Rev. Dr. Perryn and Terri Rice and their children, Jonathan and Lauren of Richardson, TX; , the Rev. Xavier and Vickey Rice of Waxahachie, TX, their daughter Rachel Peterson (Brandon) and grandchildren Nakya, Victoria, and Braelyn; host of nieces – Phyllis Palmer (Corey) and Diane Dixon (William) who have been exceptionally loving and helpful, nephews, cousins, beloved in-laws, and friends.

The services will take place on March 20, 2021 at 10am at the Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church, 8525 Audelia Rd., Dallas, TX.  Due to Covid-19 guidelines that the church is following, sanctuary seating will be limited with first access going to the family, program participants, and members of her church.  There will be a live stream of the service at www.lhpres.org and on Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church’s Facebook page.  In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America (2903 Al Lipscomb Way, Dallas, 75216) in memory of Sis. Sadie Ann Rice.