Laura Barbara Lester Smith Rice

Mrs. Laura Barbara “Bobbie” Lester Smith Rice, 86, of E. Railroad Street, Bowman, entered into rest on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at her residence.

Mrs. Rice was born in the Nickville Community of Elbert County on November 19, 1936, the third of six children of late Harry Lee Lester and Mamie Lou Seymour Lester. She was a graduate of Bowman High School and furthered her education at Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College. Bobbie was of the Baptist faith and a former member of the Elbert Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Pink Ladies. She was an avid traveller and was passionate about working in her vegetable and flower gardens.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Amanda Rose Smith Todd; husbands: Hugh Alexander Smith, Sr. and Ralph Carlis Rice, Jr.; and siblings: Bill and Betty Lester, Betty and Hoyt Carey, and Larry Lester.

Survivors include her son, Hugh A. Smith Jr. of Bowman; son-in-law, Ricky Todd of Elberton; son Randy and Carol Rice of Elberton; daughter, Cindy and Terry Pless of Elberton; son, Brannon and Kelli Rice of Spartanburg; siblings: Nancie and Buddy Ruff and Morris and Linda Lester, all of Dewy Rose; grandchildren: Jandi Todd and Roy Herbert, Cody Pless, Carley and Reid Holland, Trevan Rice, McKae Rice, Brady Rice, and LaCree Rice; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

The family will receive friends on Monday, December 19, from 5:00-7:00p.m. at Berry Funeral Home.

Funeral services celebrating Mrs. Rice’s life will be held on Tuesday, December 20, at 2:00p.m. in the Memorial Chapel of Berry Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Purvis officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Hills Memorial Park with Greg Ruff, Brad Ruff, Bentley Ruff, Kyle Ruff, Stuart Lester, and Peter Lester honored as pallbearers.

Flowers are accepted and contributions may be made in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at www.berryfh.com.

Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Mrs. Laura Barbara “Bobbie” Lester Smith Rice.