Johnny Rice

Asheville Johnny Rice, 83, of 86 Goldview Road went to be with the Lord Saturday, December 17, 2011 at the St. Joseph Campus of Mission Hospitals. A native of Madison County, he resided in Buncombe County most of his life. He retired in 1987 as a truck driver with Citizen Express and Charlotte Observer and was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. Mr. Rice was the son of the late Jacob Thurman Rice and Nancy Emaline Bishop Rice and husband of the late Doris Hilda Aiken Rice whom he married August 5, 1946. He was also preceded in death by his son, Johnny Maxwell Rice who died in 1955 and grandson, Brandon Chandler who died in 2009. Surviving are his daughter, Barbara Ann Rice Roberts of Asheville; grandchildren, Kimberly Leah Chandler and husband Ricky and Kenneth Maxwell Roberts all of Asheville; great grandsons, Brian Chandler and wife Charla, Dillon Chandler and Collin Chandler; great-great granddaughters, Hannah and Gracy; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held 11 A.M. Wednesday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Keith Watkins, Rev. Allen Rash and Rev. Daniel Reese officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 A.M. Wednesday at the church.