Mrs. Bertha Fails-Rice

FAILS-RICE, Mrs. Bertha - Age 76, passed away Friday, January 11, 2013. Family hour 11 a.m. Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Foss Avenue Baptist Church, 1159 E. Foss Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11:30 a.m. Pastor Reginald Flynn officiating. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11 a.m. Saturday. Mrs. Rice will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12 noon-8 p.m. Friday. Bertha V. Rice went home to be with the Lord, Friday, January 11, 2013, peacefully in the presence of her loving family. She was born on March 23, 1936 in Jackson, Mississippi and relocated with her family to Flint, Michigan at the age of 4. Bertha confessed her faith in Christ at an early age and was baptized at the Canaan Baptist Church. She later united with the Foss Avenue Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Dr. Avery Aldridge. Bertha was a faithful worshipper and servant within the body of Christ. She was a member of the Trustee Board, Supervisor of the Usher Board, Floral, Kitchen, Deaconess, Finance and Sunday School Ministries. Also Bertha was a member of the Great Lakes District Usher Ministry. She was the beloved wife of the late Deacon William Rice. Bertha retired from Fisher Body Coldwater Road, a division of General Motors~Local 326 as part of the Plant Security Team. She is a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, employee companion, confidant and most important, a child of God. Bertha loved and enjoyed spending time with her family (beating them in any game she decided to master) cooking, music, landscaping her yard and serving the Lord. Her smile and laugh will never be forgotten! Bertha V. Rice leaves to cherish her sweet memories and life lesson: daughter, Anita (Alfred) Banks; sons, Ronald (Colleen) Fails and Stephen Fails; granddaughters, Keisha, Toya, Kawanis, Patrese, KaRhonda, Antonette, Takeena, Crystal, Lakeya; grandsons, Earl Tipton, Jr. (whom she raised), Ryan, Osby, Anthony Jr. and Kevin; great-grandchildren; sister, Agnes (Charles) Austin; goddaughter, Wallette Morse-Williams; godson, Todd Wilson; special friends, Zetan Evans, Annie Jo Blake, Tiny Presnall, Gloria Tucker; and the many generations of nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters in Christ, who are too numerous to and have written this program, you are forever in her heart. Bertha was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Deacon William Rice; the father of her children, Mr. Osby Fails; daughter, Helene Fails; son, Anthony Fails; mother, Sallie Morgan; grandmother, Emma Coatney; uncles, Richard Gude and Emmett Jenkins; nephew and niece through marriage, Jerome and Elaine Austin.

Mrs. Bertha Fails-Rice

March 23, 1936 - January 11, 2013