Mr. James Rice, Jr., was born February 26, 1926, in Birmingham, Alabama, to the late James Rice, Sr., and the late Lucille Vaughn Rice. He accepted Christ at an early age and joined Christian Valley Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend J. W. Carter. He later joined Mount Olive Community Church under the leadership of Reverend John T. Cotton where he served as head of the Trustee Board. He attend Hudson Elementary School, Ullman High School, and Parker Night School. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the military, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946.

He worked as a Letter Carrier at the U. S. Postal Service from 1949 to 1986, retired with 37 years of service. He married the love of his life, Annie Lois Cotton, in 1945. They were married for seventy-seven years. From this union, six children were born and a son was adopted.

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, half-sisters, Vandella Jenkins, Mary Thomas, Martha Mitchell, Sammie Will Randolph, and half-brothers, Charlie Rice and Fred Rice.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife of 77 years, Mrs. Annie L. Rice; his seven children, Robert A. Rice (Audrey), Ronald (Donna) Rice, Connie R. Coggins, Janet (Aaron) Jackson, Zadie (Carl) Pickens, James III (Cynthia) Rice, and Curtis L. Rice; goddaughter, Ordella (Roderick) Nix; twenty-seven grandchildren; eighty-three great-grandchildren; thirty-two great-great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law, Rufus (Mae Willie) Cotton and George Phillip (Willie Joyce) Cotton; three sisters-in-law, Boncile Hodge, Juanita Rutherford, and Truenetta Meadows; special friends, Mr. Lewis King, Mr. Adam Thrash, and Mr. Rickey Tyus; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Special thanks to his loving care givers, Julliette Williams, Mechelle Slaughter, Jervonna Freeman, Kachina Freeman, and Belinda Pickens.