Virginia Thurston Rice

Virginia Thurston Rice was born on February 26, 1927 to Plush and Oneida Thurston in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. She and her three sisters grew up on a family farm which had been a War of 1812 land-grant. She attended a one room for elementary school and graduated from Beccaria Township High School.

After graduating she joined her two older sisters in Niagara Falls, New York. She worked Niagara Search during the years of WWII. There she met Clifton Rice and married in 1947. The couple had two children.

In 1961, she and her family moved to Columbia, Tennessee. She quickly joined the First Baptist which later became First Family. In her later years the church was really like family to her. Wilson Daniel, Kenny Marsh, and other deacons fix various things at her house in order to make it safer. John Osbourne was also a great blessing in her life visiting and bringing food.

Virginia served as an educational assistant at Brown Elementary School. She also loved cats, painting, her iris garden, reading, and embroidery. She was a member of yhr Embroiders’ Guild of America.

After retirement, Virginia enjoyed meeting with the other retired Brown School staff and maintained close friendships. In fact, Joyce Cranford faithfully visited her every week at NHC. After a long battle with illness, Virginia passed from this earthly life on December 26, 2025.

She is preceded in death by her parents; Plush and Oneida Thurston. Sisters; LaRue Demartiono, Jane Garis, and Jewell Thurston.

She is survived by her children; Janice Cook and Neil Rice (Jason Blume). Grandchildren; Nathanial (Melissa) Cook, John Cook Jr., and Elliot (Michele) Cook. And great-grandchildren; Anthony Cook, Aiden Cook, Markus Cook, Camilla Cook, and Harper Cook.

Funeral Services will be conducted Friday, January 2nd at Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home. The family will meet with friends starting at 1 pm. Services will be held at 2:00 PM with Bro. John Osborne officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Mercy Ship. P.O. Box 1930, Garden Valley, Texas or a charity of choice

Active pallbearers will include Nathanial Cook, John Cook, Elliot Cook, Harper Cook, and Kenny March.