Thelma Bernice Rice

We are here to celebrate the life journey of Thelma Bernice Rice a.k.a. “Mother Rice.”  Thelma was born in Owens, South Carolina in Laurens County on April 14, 1925 to (the late) Herbert Lee Hood, Sr. and Hannah Sullivan-Hood.  From that union, Thelma had eight brothers and three sisters, all of whom preceded her in death. 

Thelma loved the Lord and gave her life to Christ at an early age as a member of Center Rabun Baptist Church in Gray Court, South Carolina.  On Saturday, October 10, 2020 the Lord welcomed her home.

Thelma attended HBCU (Historically Black College and University) Benedict College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and then continued her education at Friendship College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, graduating in 1947 with an Associate’s Degree in Teaching.  After receiving her degree, Thelma became a teacher at Shady Oak Elementary School in South Carolina where she was the only instructor of a one-teacher-school where she taught 1st through 12th grades. 

Thelma met the love of her life, J. Barry Rice as their families sharecropped adjoining farmland.  After high school, Barry was drafted into the Army, and Thelma went off to college.  On the day they intended to marry, Barry was involved in a serious car accident.  After many visits to the hospital, Barry decided he would wait no longer, and they were married on April 16th, 1950 at the Veterans Hospital Chapel in Columbia, South Carolina.  From their union came six children: four girls and two boys.   Barry decided he wanted a better life for his family, and left South Carolina for New York.  After a few months, Barry sent for his family to join him in Brooklyn, New York in March of 1958.  After moving to New York, Thelma was a housewife until Barry’s untimely death in 1967 as she was pregnant with their sixth child.  After the birth, Thelma went back to school to earn a New York City Teaching License, and used her teaching degree to become a Teacher’s Assistant.  Thelma began working for the Board of Education as a Paraprofessional, working for 23 years and retiring in 1992.  Thelma joined the Greater Mount Pleasant Baptist Church where she served as a faithful member.

In her early years, Thelma loved to play softball with her brothers and her sister Roxie and with her children when they were young.  Thelma’s love of cooking for her family made her known as “Ma” and “Nana” to many in the neighborhood.  Thelma enjoyed watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and her favorite soap operas, The Bold and The Beautiful and The Young and The Restless.  Her favorite pastime was coloring and word search puzzle books. 

Although preceded in death by her husband, her son Jackie, and her grandson Jermaine, Thelma leaves to cherish her memory, four daughters: Velvet Hall (Brooklyn, NY), Mercedes Cunningham (Ralph - deceased) (of Wilson, NC), Shirley Rice (of Charlotte, NC), Anissa Rice of (Charlotte, NC), and son Barry Rice, Jr. (Nichelle) (of Queens, NY); ten grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.  With her beautiful smile and soft-spoken voice, Thelma warmed the hearts of many.

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