Celebration of Life for Mrs. Rita Joyce Rice

Called to Earth-August 31, 1951

Received into Glory-May 21, 2026

We celebrate the beautiful life and legacy of Mrs. Rita Joyce Rice, a devoted wife, loving mother, faithful servant of God, entrepreneur, and treasured friend whose radiant spirit touched countless lives. Born on August 31, 1951, in Northport, Alabama, to Clara Barnes, Rita was the only daughter among four brothers. At an early age, she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at New Zion Baptist Church, where the foundation of her lifelong faith journey began.

On August 5, 1972, Rita married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Mack Rice Jr., and together they moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where Mack had recently begun his career with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. What began as young love blossomed into a remarkable marriage that spanned 53 beautiful years, a union rooted in faith, loyalty and unwavering love.

After arriving in Cleveland, Rita began working at a daycare center, an experience that would profoundly shape her spiritual life by leading her to her first church home in Cleveland, Fifth Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Later, after Mack served as interim pastor of Fifth Christian, the family united in fellowship with East View United Church of Christ, where Rita faithfully served for many years. She was a devoted member of the Usher Board, Women’s Guild, and Women’s Day Mass Choir.

In addition to her years in early childhood education, she also worked as an assembler at Technicare Corporation. Her entrepreneurial spirit and creative gifts eventually led her to establish her own jewelry business, Rita’s Gold. Her passion for jewelry design and sales later continued through Cleveland Jewelry Designs, where she spent more than 30 years doing work she genuinely loved.

Rita was a precious jewel in every sense of the word, rare, radiant, valuable, and impossible to replace. Her presence brought warmth into every room she entered, and her love enriched every life she touched. Elegant and classy in every way, beautiful both inside and out, she had a gentle spirit, a giving heart, and a calming presence that anchored those around her. There was something deeply spiritual about the way Rita loved people. She gave freely from her heart without ever seeking recognition. She carried burdens quietly, sacrificed without complaint, and poured herself wholeheartedly into the people she loved most.

Rita was welcomed into Heaven by those who lovingly preceded her in death: her grandparents, George and Dannie Mayfield; her mother, Clara Barnes; her mother in love Minnie “Momo” Bendion, her beloved brothers, David Paul Mayfield, Curtis Steve Barnes, Glenn Barnes, and Jerry Barnes; along with a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and devoted friends who became family throughout the years.

She leaves to cherish her precious memory her devoted husband of 53 years, Mack Rice Jr.; her beloved children, Brandon M. Rice and Dr. Heather M. Rice; Heather’s four cherished godchildren, Imani Rice, Ariele Rice, Miriam Johnson, and her only Godson, Bryson Law, with whom she shared an exceptionally close and loving bond. She will also be remembered and deeply missed by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, church family, and dear friends whose lives were forever touched by her love and presence.

Though our hearts grieve deeply and the void her absence leaves can never truly be filled, we rejoice in knowing that Rita is now resting peacefully in the presence of the Lord she faithfully served throughout her life. Her legacy will continue to live on in every life she touched, every prayer she prayed, every sacrifice she made, and every act of kindness she extended. To have been loved by Rita was one of life’s greatest blessings.