Mother Ethel Greene Rice was the thirteenth child of fourteen children to the late William and Sophronia Coltrane Green. She was born in Randolph County, NC on June 26, 1925. The Lord called her home in the early morning hours of January 31, 2024.

Mother Rice was born and raised in the Cedar Square Community and attended the Randolph County Public Schools. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She was a lifelong member of the Galilee Church (formerly Galilee United Church of God). She attended Sunday School and Worship, driving from Greensboro every weekend to be present and fulfill her duties as a Deaconess, member of the Galilee Gospel Choir and President of the Missionary Society. On August 31, 2003, she received the special recognition as a Mother of the Church. She was a shining example of Christianity and was faithful until death.

She was a kind soul with a servant’s heart. She greeted everyone with a big smile and a warm welcome. Mother Rice loved to cook for her family and most days you could find her in the kitchen preparing food and watching TV. She also enjoyed talking on the telephone and visits family and friends.

Mother Rice was joined in marriage to George Jackson Rice on September 18, 1946. She was a loving and devoted wife for 67 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, all thirteen siblings, Paver, Elmer, Ezzell Ernest, Earl, Jesse, James, Claude, Fred, Leon, Hazel, Maude and Mary Alice; three daughters, Mildred R. Womble, Pamela R. Mobley and Danielle Rice; one son-in-law, Reginald M. Womble.

Those left to cherish her memory and continue her legacy are three daughters, Evelyn (Larry) Sims of Pittsburgh, PA, Ruth (Richard) Morehead of Greensboro, NC and Teresa (Fergus) Forbes of Hickory, NC; two sons, Retired Lt. Colonel George M. (Virginia) Rice of Myrtle Beach, SC and Michael Rice of Archdale, NC; fourteen grandchildren, Regina Womble (Hubert) Miller, Eric (Leslie) Rice, Jermaine Goins, Courtney Rich, Michelle Rice, Tenesha Forbes (Otis) McCullom, Terrin Mobley ( Dominic) Glover, Joevier Rice, Matthew (Sarah) Rice, Kristin Mobley, Julian Rice, Tenicka Forbes, DeAndre (Maria) Forbes, Royelle Rice; eight great-grandchildren; one son-in-law, William Mobley and two special caregivers, Debra Gilmer and Shante Leak; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Harshaw Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 3840 Bowman Avenue, Randleman, NC. Interment will follow at Galilee United Church of God Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Final arrangements are entrusted to Phillips Funeral Service, Inc.