Vivian Rice

Vivian Lorraine Rice, known as Nanny to everyone she met, the matriarch of the Rice Family Singers, was promoted to the heavenly choir on Saturday, January 21st, 2012. She was born the youngest child of Claude Huston Crawford and Rebecca Edith Shanks Crawford on August 20, 1923 in Kilsythe WV. She grew up with her two sisters in Mt. Hope who precede her in death, Gladys Crawford Warden and Violet Crawford Reed. She graduated from Mt. Hope High School and soon after married Thomas Edward Rice from Tennessee, "the best lookin' boy" she had ever seen, on December 6, 1941 - the day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She was often heard saying, "Nobody loved each other as much as we did". Tom was often heard to say, "Two great wars started that week!" Tom has been waiting with the Lord and the Heavenly Hosts since 1982 for his singing partner, his love, his wife of what would be 70 years.

Nanny is survived by three children and their spouses: Judy and Rickey Ray of Virginia Beach VA, Connie and Mike Rodas of Wayside, WV, and Tom and Shelia Rice of Christiansburg, VA. One of her greatest joys in life was spending time with her grandchildren playing, shopping, and traveling with them. She began teaching them to sing and pray as early as two years old. Nanny has left to them a legacy of a love of music and serving the Lord. She often said, "God doesn't want your junk - he wants your best" in trying to encourage them to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Nanny loved her grandchildren "her babies", very much and spent as much time as she could with them. She has left seven grandchildren: Jennifer & Bill Pinto of Smyrna GA, Rebecca and Randy Fox of Talcott WV, Angela and Brandon Hodges of Willis, VA, Cameron Rice of Christiansburg, VA, Samantha Rice of Christiansburg, VA, Debra and Kevin Daughtry and Mark and Evelyn Call. Her great Grandchildren: Keegan Pinto of Smyrna GA, Zachariah Thomas Hodges of Willis, VA, Ella Lorraine Hodges (Nanny's namesake) of Willis, VA , and Jesse Call will know her through the stories, pictures and music she has left behind.

Nanny's goal was to live a life that was pleasing to God. She spent her time praying and ministering to others in churches, nursing homes, and jails in Virginia and West Virginia. She would sing and she spoke to everyone she met of the love. of the Lord and how he had blessed her life. During the 1960's The Rice Family Singers, (Vivian, Tom and their three children) were responsible for two television programs on WYAH Channel 27 the Christian Broadcast Network in Portsmouth Virginia. The "Sunshine Hour" was focused on providing encouragement to Christians and aired on Sundays after church and included music and testimonies from the family and prayer requests from the public. The "Prodigal" focusing on salvation of lost souls aired every Saturday evening at 7pm and included songs and testimonies about conversion and salvation. In the 1970's the family ministered in churches, nursing homes and jails primarily in West Virginia. They were on the radio stations WMTD in Hinton and WBKW in Beckley. These programs focused on encouraging Christians and included songs, testimonies and prayer requests. When the children had left home, she and Tom continued to minister in churches, nursing homes and jails until his death in 1982. Nanny continued to visit nursing homes with her friends and testified and sang for the residents. When she could no longer drive, she began a ministry in her home of praying for and sending cards and notes to those who were ill or needed encouragement. She has been a devoted and very active member of War Ridge Free Will Baptist Church in Wayside, WV since 1969. In addition to her church and ministry activities, she enjoyed life and wanted to live it fully. In her 70's she began taking piano lessons and Bible College courses from Liberty University as well as learning how to use a computer.
Vivian "Nanny" Rice was loved and respected by all who knew her. Her family and friends will miss her greatly but are confident she is in heaven with her beloved Tom and her savior Jesus Christ. The family would like to thank the physicians and staff at Carilion Giles Community Hospital with a special note of appreciation to Dr. McMahon. They would also like to express appreciation to the staff at Bowers Hospice House in Beckley West Virginia.
Visitation will be Tuesday January 24th from 6pm ? 8pm at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors in Hinton, WV. The funeral will be held at War Ridge Free Will Baptist Church in Wayside, WV on Wednesday January 25th at 3:00pm. Interment will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Ballengee, WV. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Vivian Rice?s name to the Bowers Hospice House at 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, WV 25801.