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
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.