Bee, VA- Altha Mae Hensley Rice, age 99, of Priest Fork Road, passed away Sunday, November 12, 2017 at her home. Born in Flag Pond, TN on May 9, 1918, she was a daughter of the late Henry Ellis and Delie Bailey Hensley. She was a homemaker and charter member of Frying Pan Independent Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Holt Rice, a daughter, Helen Sue Rice, a son, Earnest Gale Rice, a daughter-in-law, Katheryn Barbara Tipton Rice, grandsons, Charles Robert Rice, Gregory Kent Rose, Dallas J. Rice, Lawrence E. Rice, a great-grandson, Jason Paul Rose, brothers and sisters-in-law, Hilliard (Evie) Hensley, John (Bonnie) Hensley and an infant brother, sisters and brothers-in-law, Thelma (Ed) Rice, Mary (Dana) Rice, Hamie (Frank) Tipton, Meda (Arthur) Honeycutt and Louise (Gaston) Walls.
Survivors include five sons, Everett G. (Nina) Rice of Newport News, Edgar A. Rice of Flag Pond, TN, Robert Holt (Brenda) Rice Jr. of Windsor, Roger L. (Sandy) Rice of Elyria, OH and Jerry D. (Wilma) Rice of Bee, three daughters, Janice (Carl) Rose of Clintwood, Linda (Jim) Presley of Council and Beatrice “Tat” (Harold) Willis of Bee, a brother, Donald Hensley, a special nephew, Harvey Lee Rice both of Flag Pond, TN, 17 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great grandchildren.
Altha’s mother died when she was six years so she spent the next seven years in the Holston Orphanage in Greenville, TN. When she went back home at the age of fourteen she helped her dad on the farm and was the cook. She didn’t get to go back to school after leaving the orphanage. When she was eighteen she married Robert Holt Rice on July 5, 1936. Everett and Earnest were born in Flag Pond, TN but they moved to Bee, VA in 1940 and the remaining eight children were born there.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at Haysi Funeral Home with Craig L. Shelton officiating. Burial will follow in Rice-Ratliff Cemetery, Bee, VA. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Helen Owens, Wilma Fuller, Homer Deel, Bob Rasnick, Dave Powers, Terry Sykes and Harvey Rice. The family will receive friends after 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home with a song service at 7:00 p.m. Online condolences may be sent to www.haysifuneral.com Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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