Thursday, April 21, 2016Viewing 4pm — Service 6pm

Howard University School of Divinity, Dunbarton ChapelReverend Robert Childs, Officiating

In Loving Memory of

September 12, 1925 — April 14, 2016

Dr. Gene Rice

Obituary A GOD INTOXICATED LIFE

DR. GENE RICE passed away on April 14,

2016. Gene Rice was born September 12,

1925 in Middlesboro, KY. He was the son

of Howard Colson Rice and Etta Wright. He

served in the Marine Corps in World War II

and received a Purple Heart in the Battle of

Iwo Jima in February 1945. He is a graduate

of Berea College and received a PhD from

Union Theological Seminary / Columbia

University in New York. He married Betty

Jean Smith in February 1952. Dr. Rice was a

professor of Old Testament, language and

literature at Howard University School of

Divinity for 51 years. Following the death

of his first wife, Gene was blessed with a

second marriage to Delores McCoy DeLegall.

Gene was a child of nature who grew up

into a mystic. He was raised in the foothills

of the Blue Ridge Mountains near the

Cumberland Gap. He loved to spend time

out of doors communing with Spirit,

especially in the mountains where he

could feel divine essence.

Gene also loved many different kinds of

music; from John Denver and Simon &

Garfunkel, to Pavarotti and Mozart. Music

could lift him up, putting him in touch with

the transcendence of the fourth dimension.

Above all Gene loved to write, study and

teach about the Old Testament. It was his

calling and his passion. He could illuminate

the mysteries of scripture and make them

come alive with meaning and relevance for

the challenges of the world today. One of

the greatest things about Gene was how he

connected with and loved people, especially

his Howard University family and the students

who were devoted to him.

Gene was a published author of innumerable

articles and the commentary on First

Kings: Nations Under God. He especially

loved and was captivated by the prophet

Isaiah who was the subject of his doctoral

dissertation. In his final year, Gene returned

to his favorite prophet, working on a new

spiritual interpretation entitled “Isaiah: A God

Intoxicated Prophet”.

Gene was preceded in death by his first wife,

Betty Jean (Smith) Rice; daughter, Jane Rice

Acosta; and two brothers, John Rice and Jack

Sutton. Gene is survived by his wife Delores

McCoy Rice; son, Jonathan; daughter-in-law,

Nancy Deutsch; granddaughter Cordelia;

step-daughter Melanie DeLegall; step-son

Jahmal DeLegall; son-in-law Richard Acosta;

and brothers Captain Ben (Ret.) Rice, Richard

Rice and David Sutton; and sister, Betty Brouwer.

He will be interred in Scott Cemetery in

Harrogate, TN on Saturday, April 23rd.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that

donations be made to the Howard University

School of Divinity.

Order of ServiceProcessional Ave Maria

Old Testament Isaiah 6: 1-4, 8 | Dr: Alice Bellis Isaiah 61: 1

New Testament 2 Corinthians 3: 17-18 | Dr: Ronald Hopson Romans 8: 38-39

*Silence

Congregational Singing The Lord’s Prayer | Led by Voices of Mays w/ Sam Perryman

Prayer of Comfort Dean Bernard Richardson

Congregational Recitation 23rd Psalm | Led by Jon RIce

*Silence

Musical Selection Dream in God’s Heart | Rev. Loyce Craft

Obituary Silent Reading

Musical Selection Blessed Assurance | Voices of Mays w/ Sam Perryman

Eulogy Dr. Delores Carpenter Dr. Laura Tanyi-Remarck

*Silence

Congregational Chant Lord I Want to Be a Christian | Led by Voices of Mays w/ Sam Perryman

Tributes

*Silence

Congregational Chant Come Here By Land | Led by Voices of Mays w/ Sam Perryman

Reading Death Is Nothing At All | Melanie DeLegall

*Silence

Congregational Chant Glory Glory Hallelujah | Led by Voices of Mays w/ Sam Perryman

Benediction Robert Childs

Recessional Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring

Dr. Gene Rice

Sept 12, 1925 — April 14, 2016

From The Pen of Dr. Gene RiceA LITURGY TO START THE DAY WITH GOD

This is the day the Lord has made,

Let us rejoice and be glad.

Today is a gift of incredible worth,

A gift from the One who made heaven and earth.

Thank you Lord for the gift of life,

Wonder of wonders, blessing supreme —

For the light of this day, for time to dream,

For hope, and for love, and for things not yet seen.

The image of God am I,

I’ve been fashioned by hands from on high.

I’m a dream in God’s heart, I’ve been set apart,

For a blessing only I can impart.

The image of God are you,

No matter your color or view.

No matter how different you ways are from mine,

You too bear the image divine.

The image of God are we,

We are members of one family.

We are sister and brother, made to love one another,

And to live in harmony.

Death Is Nothing At AllDeath is nothing at all.

I have only slipped away to the next room.I am I and you are you.

Whatever we were to each other, That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.Speak to me in the easy way

Which you always used.Put no difference into your tone.

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughedAt the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.Let my name be ever the household word

That it always was.Let it be spoken without effect.

Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.It is the same that it ever was.

There is absolute unbroken continuity.Why should I be out of mind

Because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.For an interval.

Somewhere. Very near.Just around the corner.

All is well.

~ Henry Scott Holland

Acknowledgements

Interment

Services Entrusted To

The entire family of the late Dr. Gene Rice is profoundly grateful

to each of you for your many acts of kindness, words of support

and consolation, consideration, visits, calls, emails, cards, floral tributes

and many other displays of care and support during our time of loss.

It is our prayer that God will continue to bless each of you for helping

to lighten our load and make it through these challenging times.

Special thank yous to: Tracie West, Sylvia McDonald-Kaufman,

Shirley Gravely-Curry, Deborah Hoy Jones, Hollie Lopes,

Michele Hagan, Glenda Willis.

Dr. Gene Rice will be buried in Harrogate, Tennessee

at Scott Cemetery on Saturday, April 23rd, 2016.

J.B. Jenkins Funeral Home, Landover, MD.