Mary Naomi Rice

Mary Naomi Rice, 76, formerly of Candler, passed away Sunday, November 14, 2021, at her daughter’s home in Leicester.

Mrs. Rice was born April 5, 1945, in Buncombe County to the late Rev. Henry J. and Leota Holland Rice. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerald Rathbone and siblings, Reuben and Bobby Rice, Essie Brown, Lucy Bleak, Ellen Austin, Avery Rice, Rhea Jackson, Timothy Rice and Joyce Ann Rathbone and by an infant daughter.
While in Leicester, she attended Chestnut Grove Baptist Church.

She is survived by her daughters, Becky Surrett (Steve), Angie Surrett (Mike) and Cathy Rathbone; son, Dale Rathbone (Angie); ten grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; sisters, Esther Johnson and Ruth Sprouse and brothers, Robert, J.W., Larry and Jerry Rice.

Funeral services will be at 2:00p.m. Wednesday at Bethesda Baptist Church with Pastors Chad Edwards, Mark Bullman and Kenneth Pack officiating. Burial will follow at Rathbone Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to her nephew Scott Gosnell’s fundraiser for his double-lung transplant via PayPal: @Tfisher10 or call Tiffany Fisher 828-808-3703.