Willa Mae Rice

Mrs. Willa Mae Rice, daughter of Robert Lee Hutchinson and Mattie (Batson) Hutchinson, was born on March 1, 1937, in Clarksville, Tennessee. Willa Mae lost her mother at an early age, and her father was sent off to war. Willa Mae and her siblings Savannah Waldon, Frances Isabelle, and Robert Lewis Hutchinson were sent to the Glen Home in Terre Haute, Indiana. This is where she spent most of her childhood. Upon graduating, she moved to Indianapolis, Indiana to further her education in cosmetology, while attending school, she met Franklin Delano Roosevelt Rice, who was attending barber school. April 28, 1958, Willa Mae and Frank were united in Holy Matrimony. Between this union came 4 daughters, 1 son, 18 grandchildren, and 26 great grandchildren. Willa Mae was a homemaker, she kept the family functioning as a caretaker, disciplinarian, counselor, and wonderful wife, and was great at her job! Willa Mae did not attend church a lot while we were growing up, but later she joined New Light Baptist Church, which made her a more complete woman, wife, mother, and friend. August 27, 2012 she lost a piece of her heart and soul, her husband of 54 years, Frank Rice. Later, after years of losing friends, family, and church family, Willa Mae decided to move to Dallas, Texas to live with (Frankie) her baby girl. Willa Mae at the ripe age of 80, still continued to drive, learn her way around Dallas, cook, clean, shop, and take care of the dogs. Mom did whatever needed to be done to help around the house. Mom was like the energizer bunny and loved the casino! Willa Mae leaves to cherish her memories her 5 children, Doris A. Rice, Bonita I. Day, Kim E. Rice-Williams (Renard), Frankie W. Rice-Blackmon (Bruce), Fredrick D. Rice (Sheila), 18 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

Visitation will be held at Flanner Buchanan – Floral Park on Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 10am-12pm with a funeral service to immediately follow at 12pm.