- Date Of Birth: August 15, 1933
- Date Of Death: July 30, 2020
- State: Alabama
Margaret Smithson Rice of Tuscaloosa, Alabama passed away on Jul 30, 2020.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 30 years, James Martice Rice, parents; Ruth Warren Smithson and Leonard Dewey Smithson and her sister; Madeleine Smithson Shipley
Survivors include her daughter; Martie Rice Schrimsher (Dan), son;James Martice (Jay) Rice, Jr. (Gina) brothers;Thomas E. Smithson (Joan), Howard Smithson ;grandchildren, Ashton Rice Mason (Jeffery), Allison Rice Nix (Tyler) ,great grandchildre; Riley James Mason, Rice Randall Mason,Tyler Brooke Nix.
Mrs Margaret Rice was a loving, caring wife, mother, mother in law and grandmother. She always had a beautiful smile and twinkling blue eyes. She was a very energetic person who was always willing to lend a hand regardless of the task. She loved her family and was always there for them.
Margaret or “Marg” as she was known by so many was born and raised in Moundville, Alabama. She attended Hale County High School where she was a Cheerleader for 5 years. After graduating high school, she moved to Tuscaloosa where she went to work for City National Bank. Later she married the Love of Her Life, James Martice Rice and they had two children, Martie Leigh and James Martice (Jay).
From there she started on an adventure that lasted a lifetime. She entered into the field of education. First as a Sunday School Teacher at Taylorville United Methodist Church where she was a member for over 60 years. She was also an active member of the Taylorville United Methodist Church Women’s Club. Her drive towards education continued as a volunteer in the library at Englewood Elementary School and then on to a become a Substitute Teacher there. She loved to cook and was always baking snacks for the school children. She was an active member of the PTA and continuously worked to improve the quality of education for all students.
When it came to sports regardless of the event where it be baseball, football, track, volleyball or softball, it didn’t matter. If her children were involved she was there to cheer them on. As time passed, she did the same for her two grandchildren (Ashton and Allison). And of course she was a devoted Alabama Crimson Tide Fan. Regardless, she was always there.
Another very important part of her family was the addition of her Son in law Dan E. Schrimsher (Martie) and her Daughter in law Gina B. Rice (Jay). From the moment that she met them she accepted them with open arms and loved them both as her own.
Margaret was a very debonair dresser, regardless of the occasion and she never went anywhere without lipstick. But that was part of what made her so special.
Margaret worked for the State of Alabama – Shelton State Community College where she retired after 29 years of service. While there she helped to establish the “Shelton State Life Long Learning Center.
Margaret loved life, loved her family and friends but most of all she loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As a hobby, she loved collecting Angels. One of her favorite holidays was Christmas and she always decorated with Angels. One of her other hobbies was baking and there was always a Red Velvet cake at Christmas. One for her family and many more for friends.
Another of Margaret’s passions was the love of dancing and she was an active member of the Tuscaloosa Ballroom Dance Association for many years.
Later in life as speech became difficult, she turned to writing. Her words flowed across the page as beautiful as she was on the dance floor. She was truly a “Beautiful Gem” that will be truly missed by so many.
