Arthur Rice

RICE, Mr. William Arthur Rice "Big Daddy" - Went home to be with the Lord, Wednesday March 3, 2010 at the age of 82 blessed years old at Avalon Hospice. Family hour 10:30 a.m. Monday March 8, 2010 at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 2115 W. Coldwater Rd., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m., Pastor Michael Pettigrew officiating. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 a.m. Monday. Mr. Rice will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday. Mr. William Arthur “Big Daddy” Rice was born January 18, 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Mamie Centers. William accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church for more than 20 years. He was a Veteran of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines; obtaining an Honorable Discharge from all four branches. William resided in Huntsville, Alabama from 1965 until 1976, then he moved his family to Flint, Michigan, where he remained until his homegoing, March 3, 2010. He volunteered for the Beecher School District in various capacities for more than 20 years. William loved people of all ages and would give you the shirt off his back. Mr. William Arthur “Big Daddy” Rice leaves to cherish his memories: 2 daughters, Tina (Dennis) Lincoln of Flint and Regina Rice of Waterloo, IA; son, William Jason Rice of Flint; step-daughter, June Rice of Richmond, VA; 5 grandchildren, Lamar Rice, DeAndre Rice, John Mumford, Timothy Rice and Serena Rice, all of Flint; 3 great-grandchildren, Saniya Kirkland of Flint, Jaela and Jaeda Wade, both of Longview, TX; brother, Thaddeus Centers; cousin, Francis Henry, both of Flint; 4 brothers-in-law, Vern Miller of Flint, Calvin (Sharon), Peter (Carla) Staten and Theodore (Gladys) Franklin, all of Huntsville, AL; numerous nieces and, nephews; a host of other relatives and dear friends including special friends, Betty Watts, Moses Lacy, Chester Hughes, Cora Hawk and Marie Allen. Mr. Rice was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl Rice; mother, Mamie Centers; sisters, Elvira Centers and Ruth Miller; nephew, Daryl Miller; and mother-in-law, Johnnie Scott. The family would like to express special thanks to Pastor Michael Pettigrew and the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church family, Senior Pastor Urundi Knox and Ebenezer Ministries Church family; Hurley Medical Center Emergency Room Dept., the staffs of the 7th and 9th floor; especially, April Conaway, Dr. K. Ahmed and the staff of Avalon Hospice.

Arthur Rice

January 18, 1929 - March 3, 2010