Bruce Wayne Brice Sr.

Published 1:22 pm Wednesday, May 14, 2025

April 1, 1930 – May 11, 2025

NATCHEZ – Services for Bruce Wayne Brice Sr., 95, of Alexandria who passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Brookdale Assisted Living, Alexandria, LA, with his daughter at his side, will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Laird Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the Natchez National Cemetery.

Visitations will be held on Thursday evening, May 15, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Laird Funeral Home and again on Friday, May 16, from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. at the time of the funeral at Laird Funeral Home.

Mr. Brice was born on April 1, 1930, in Swartz, LA, the son of Turner Joseph Brice and Mattie Lee Thompson.

After completing high school at Bastrop High School and beginning employment with International Paper Company Bastrop, he married Billie Maxine Blackmon. Joining the Army in 1951, he served two years as a Sergeant and was honorably discharged the month before his daughter, Sheryl, was born in 1953. Bruce returned to employment with the Bastrop International Paper Company and worked while attending Northeast Louisiana University until he transferred to LSU, Baton Rouge, to finish his BSEE in electrical engineering. Returning after graduation to International Paper Company, the family was transferred to the Pine Bluff, AR, IP mill. While there, their son, Bruce Jr., was born. After being appointed Director of the Electrical and Instruments Department, Bruce and his family were transferred to the Natchez IP mill in 1969. In 1975, Bruce was sent to Moss Point, MS, IP mill as Director of Operations. The Brice’s lived in Pascagoula until he retired from IP in 1985, concluding 35 years of employment with IP.  Bruce and Maxine lived in Natchez until 2019, when they relocated to Alexandria, LA, to be near their daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Brice established RSI Business on Main Street in Natchez as co-owners with their son in 2002, and retired from their son’s business in 2012. The Brice’s were enthusiastic volunteers in the Natchez community (Balloon Festival, Chamber of Commerce, Music Festival, Visitor Information, Tableau, etc.)

Bruce was a member of First Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School, a member of Harmony Lodge #1 Masons, Yorkrite Masons, Shriners (Wahabi Temple), State President of AARP Mississippi for many years, member of the national and state Sheriff’s Triad. He was appointed by Governor Haley Barber to the Mississippi Council on Aging, which he served as President for several years until 2019.

Mr. Brice was preceded in death by his father, Turner Joseph Brice; his mother, Mattie Lee Brice; stepbrother, Wilbur Alan Johnson; stepsister, Mattie Lee Freeland; and son, Bruce Wayne Brice, Jr.

Survivors include daughter, Sheryl Brice Herring, and husband, Jim Herring; two grandsons, Colin Gregory Brice and Brett Nolan Herring; three great-grandchildren, Ryleigh June Herring, Cody Gunter, and Beau Gunter; and several cousins.

The Pallbearers will be Jim Herring, Colin Brice, Cody Gunter, Richard Brice, Buddy Brice, Gary Holloway, Bill Russell, Marc Smith, and Marvin Hayes.

Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Gambrell and Tony Rybek (Scotland).

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital, Office of Philanthropy, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, LA 71103

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.