Bishop Eugene Riley Rice

Passed away on August 20, 2014










Graveside Service:





Saturday, August 23, 2014
3:00 p.m. EST
Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens
5755 Mallory Rd
College Park, GA 30349

Bishop Eugene Riley Rice was born June 30, 1924 to the late James Paul Rice and Lottie White Rice in Poulan, Georgia. Bishop's mother passed when he was eight-years old and his first cousin, Louise Mitchell stepped in to raise him. He had one sister, Verdell Rice Johnson, who transitioned in 1955. In 1943, Bishop Rice married Priscilla Mae Tatum and to this union was born one daughter, Bobbie Jean Colbert.

  In 1960,  he heard a preacher by the name of Elder W. J. Peterson in Tampa, Florida and was converted.  In 1962,  he was ordained a Bishop under the leadership of Apostle Peterson.

Under his leadership, Bishop Rice oversaw approximately 20 churches along the eastern seaboard with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia(Pentecostal Church of God).  He would travel faithfully to preach powerful messages that ministered to the needs of the people. He had the "eye of an eagle" and the gift of discernment, never tiring in the spirit of preaching and rarely left the pulpit without a dry eye in the house. His words had a way of penetrating to the core of all needs culminating with a heartfelt understanding of how much Christ loved his people. Bishop Rice could sing a hymn or gospel song that would "soothe the spirit and bind every wounded heart." You could hear him singing "The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want" or "Open the flood gates of heaven, let it rain" with a' passion that conveyed the essence of Jesus Christ as a "Balm in Gilead." Bishop Rice sang and preached the pure word of God into the heart of every believer. He was forever praying, knowing that there was a listening ear. He trusted God to hear the cries of the people and his labor has not been in vain.

 

Bishop Rice was a well known philanthropist, humanitarian and business man.  Bishop Rice bestowed love in every facet of his life.  For years, he provided food, shelter, and clothing for families. His generosities lead him to create the Eugene and Scilla Rice Food Ministry in 2010. He was well known in the city of Atlanta for being the owner of an automotive repair shop and construction company. He also had a propensity of being a connoisseur of vintage cars. Bishop Eugene leaves behind to cherish his memories, sons and daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters of the entire Pentecostal Church of God family.

Interment:

Forest Lawn Cemetery