James Edward Rice departed this life on July 13, 2022. A native of Winston-Salem, NC, he was born April 24, 1936, to Jessie Rice Anderson. Along with his mother and sister, Mary C. Rice Booker (Wilbur), he briefly relocated to Detroit, Michigan where he attended Sacred Heart Catholic High School. He left high school to enter the United States Army, where he proudly served our country for three years, living abroad while stationed in Germany during the Korean War. After military service, he returned to Winston-Salem and promptly resumed his education, graduating from Carver High School in 1959. With an interest in grammar and teaching, he enrolled at Winston-Salem Teachers College (now known as Winston-Salem State University) where he studied to become a teacher, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1963.

Upon graduation, he relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was one of the first full time, permanent black teachers hired in the newly desegregated Milwaukee Public Schools system (MPS), hired to teach English at Lincoln High School. While teaching, he completed two fellowships under the National Defense Education Act between 1965 and 1968 and earned a Master of Education from Northeastern Illinois State College in 1969.

His career as an educator continued with MPS for 30 years of excellence where he taught and worked as an administrator at Bay View High School and Fritsche Middle School, retiring as a vice-principal in 1991. His dedication to his work was recognized when Fritsche Middle School named the school auditorium the, "James E. Rice Auditorium". He loved his students and colleagues at MPS; his title as educator was a great joy in his life.

He loved fishing, reading, lectures, debates, listening to Blues, and volunteering. He was an active member of St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church where he held leadership and administrative roles on church committees. He was a very proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated (Kappa Phi chapter, Milwaukee and Psi Phi chapter, Winston-Salem), where he held leadership and administrative roles supporting the mission of the fraternity including Parliamentarian and Keeper of Record & Seal. He received recognition for his service and proclamations from the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Public Schools, and the North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Jessie Rice Anderson; stepfather, King Anderson; sister, Mary C. Rice Booker; son, Vincent Rice; great-granddaughter, Seanna T. Gregory; and sister to the family, Arvy B. Moore and her daughter, Vanessa Y. Moore.

He leaves behind the love of his life, his wife, Gwendolyn "Lo"Ratliff, with whom he enjoyed over 65 wonderful years of marriage; he was very proud of his family, starting with his children, Orlando C. Rice (Tammy), Anthony Rice (Kristi), Benedict E. Rice, Vincent Rice, Maria D. Rice-Rashwan, Pamilla A. Rice-Benton (Kevin), and Natalya L. Rice; he was proud of his grandchildren, Narria D. Rice (Shane), Tamneeka L.R. Lightford (Demarlo II), Nicholas E. Rice, Vincent G. Rice, Vincent R. Benton, Portia J. Gregory (Dishone), A. Quinton Rice (Malaysia), Olivia D. Rice-Bond (Bionca), Jamilla K. Benton, Savannah D. Rice, Morgan Walker, and Kara Haynes (Aaron); he adored his great-grandchildren, Langston, Tamiya, Demarlo III, Titan, Skylar, Journee, and Aaron; he leaves behind a host of family and friends which includes nieces and nephews, Chiquita White (Gerald), Debra Nash (Frank), Cheryl Stone (Jeffrey), Angela Booker, Alan Booker and their families; nieces, Valerie Foster, Yvette Moore, and their families; cousins, Joe Rogers (Shirley), Emmanuel Rogers (Shirley), and their families; and family loved as brothers, James Lowery (Dalene), George Lowery (Henrietta), and their families.

James appreciated and enjoyed life. He was devoted to his Catholic faith. His unwavering and principled commitment to education and serving the community had a profound impact that is seen in the lives of those he touched. He lived by the notion, and imparted such onto his children and family, that there is no excuse for not making a meaningful contribution to society. He will be deeply missed by all of those who knew, loved, and appreciated him.

Funeral mass will be held at 12noon Saturday, July 23, 2022 at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church with Father Henry Tutuwan presiding.  A family visitation and public viewing will be held from 5:00pm until 7:00pm Friday, July 22, 2022 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Anthony Bleyer, Dr. Ray Morrow, and their staff at Wake Forest Medical Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to any of the following organizations: Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls 116 8th Ave SE, Little Falls, MN 56345, St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church 1625 E 12th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, The Psi Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated P.O. Box 21271 Winston Salem, N.C. 27120, Holy Angels, Inc 6600 Wilkinson Blvd. Belmont, NC 28012.