March 27, 1926 – Oct. 17, 2011

NATCHEZ — Services for Pearline Johnson Rice, 85, of Natchez, who died Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at Promise Hospital in Vidalia, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Milford Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie Johnson officiating.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Robert D. Mackel and Sons Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. today with family hour from 6 to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Mrs. Rice was born March 27, 1926, in Jefferson County, the daughter of Steve Johnson Sr. and Charlotte Lee Johnson. She was a member of Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Bude.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Floyd Rice Jr.; six children, Roy Rese Rice, Mack Roy Rice, Lee Oscar Rice, Nella Yancy, the Rev. Floyd Rice III and Ora Lee Batiste; six brothers; and four sisters.

Survivors include six children, Earnest Johnson and wife, Ollie, of Chicago, Velma McCray and husband, Wilbert, Percy Rice, Dora Rice Stanton, Irene Baldwin and Rosie Lee Woods, all of Natchez; four sisters, Flora Gooden of McGee, Sarah Howard of New Orleans, Eloise Tucker of Chicago and Matidly Johnson of Natchez; three brothers, Steve Johnson and wife, Bertha, of Natchez, bishop Willie Johnson and wife, Judy, of Bude and Joe Johnson and wife, Regina of Roxie; two daughters-in-law, Beatrice Rice and Anna Rice, both of Natchez; one son-in-law, Wilson Batiste of Kenner, La.; 47 grandchildren; a number of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives; and the Christ Temple Apostolic Church Family and a number of friends.

Pallbearers will be grandsons.