Doris Rice

Doris departed this life on Monday December 12, 2022, at the age of 83 years, 4 months, and 12 days. She was born in Hardin County, Tennessee, on July 31, 1939, the daughter of the late Grover Wallace and Catherine Franks Neill. On July 5, 1957, she was united in marriage to Charles Donald Rice, who preceded her in death on July 9, 2010.

When Doris was a young child, her father was Killed in Action serving our country in World War 2. Her mother later remarried and they moved to Trenton, Missouri, Where her step-father pastored at Shelburn Baptist Church. This is where she met Charles and they later married. In 1959, they moved back to Hardin County, Tennessee. She worked for Brown Shoe Company, before going to work for Hardin County Board of Education as a cafeteria manager and retired from Whites school in the Burnt Church community. After the passing of her youngest son Dennis in 2013, she moved to McNairy County and lived with her daughter Gail until going to be with the Lord.


She was a member of Turkey Creek Baptist Church and the VFW Auxiliary. Doris lived in Hardin County, Tennessee for 54 years and McNairy County for 9 years. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, canning, and doing crafts of all types.

Doris is survived by her children, Gail Rice Petty (David) of Ramer, Tennessee, and Donald Rice (Suzanne) of Savannah, Tennessee; sister Roxanna Carman (Butch) of Athens, Tennessee; brother Bruce Cloyd of Savannah, Tennessee; grandchildren, Bryan Jackson Petty, Olivia Hutcheson, Rebeka Destefano, and Seth Rice; great grandchildren, Trae, Sabastien, Emma, Kaylee, Tristian, Rhyse, Benjamin, and Axel.

In addition to her parents and husband, Doris was preceded in death by a son, Dennis Neil Rice, daughter-in-law Debbie Bain Rice, and brother, Robin Cloyd.