Ralph Carlis Rice, Jr.

Mr. Ralph Carlis Rice, Jr., resident of East Railroad Street, Bowman, husband of Barbara Lester Rice, passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2016, at Athens Regional Medical Center. He was 80. Mr. Rice was born in Hart County on October 15, 1935, to the late Ralph Carlis Rice, Sr. and Annie Ruth Brown Rice. He was the owner/operator of Ralph's Auto Parts, and a former employee of Anderson NAPA Auto Parts. Ralph served as a Councilman for the City of Bowman, and in the Georgia Army National Guard. Mr. Rice was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Barbara Lester Rice of the home; children and their spouses: Cindy and Terry Pless of Elberton, GA, Randy and Carol Rice of Elberton, GA, Brannon and Kelli Rice of Duncan, SC, Rose and Ricky Todd of Elberton, GA, and Hugh Smith of Bowman, GA; siblings: Kenny Rice of Bowman, GA, Billy Rice of Elberton, GA, and Joyce Chastain of Elberton, GA; grandchildren: Jandi Todd, Cody Pless, Carley and Reid Holland, Trevan Rice, McKae Rice, Brady Rice, and LaCree Rice; and four great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his siblings: Beth Anderson, Alice Dye, and Jean Seymour. Funeral service celebrating his life will be held 3PM on Friday, January 8, in the Memorial Chapel of Berry Funeral Home with Rev. Scott Mize and Rev. Gary Purvis officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Hills Memorial Park with Kenyon Rice, Phil Rice, Eddie Higginbotham, Adam Higginbotham, Scott Gunter and Ricky Seymour serving as pallbearers. The family is the home on East Railroad Street in Bowman and will receive friends from 1:30-3PM at Berry Funeral Home just prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested please make memorials in Ralph's memory to a charity of one's choice. Share your stories and photos in Mr. Rice's Book of Memories at www.berryfh.com. Berry Funeral Home & Crematory, Elberton in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Ralph Carlis Rice, Jr.