Celebrating the life of....Ethel McGill Rice

Family Gathering: 327 Carroll Street, Thomasville, North Carolina 27360
Public Visitation: Saturday, December 4, 2021 1:00 pm -6:00 pm
S.E. Thomas Funeral & Cremation Services
110 Highland Avenue, Thomasville, NC 27360
Family Visitation: Sunday, December 5, 2021 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Please follow all CDC Guidelines
Brown New Calvary Baptist Church 200 Doak Street, Thomasville, NC
Funeral Service: Sunday, December 5, 1:00 pm
Brown New Calvary Baptist Church, 200 Doak Street, Thomasville, NC 27360
Life and Legacy
Mrs. Ethel Elois McGill Rice was born in Gaffney, SC on October 30, 1934 to the late Fitzhugh and Rosa (Rosie) Reid McGill and transitioned from this life on November 26, 2021, while surrounded by her daughters in her home.
On February 3, 1957, Lois married the love of her life, Thomas James (TJ) Rice, and to this union, three children were born. At an early age Lois joined Concord Baptist Church in Gaffney, SC. After moving to Thomasville, she joined Brown New Calvary Baptist Church. As long as her health permitted, she faithfully served on the Senior Usher Board and Missionary Board while regularly attending Sunday School. She was a humble, loving person and practiced the love of the Lord daily while extending grace to others. She is known by family, friends, and community members as someone who exemplified love while positively impacting others.
She treasured being with family, friends and people in general. She enjoyed taking care of others, babysitting children, showing love through cooking and sharing meals she prepared, listening to gospel music, traveling, and watching television shows, such as In the Heat of the Night, Family Feud, and the local news. She loved to travel and traveled to numerous states and countries with her children and grandchildren.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings: James McGill, T.G. McGill, Fitzhugh McGill, Jr., Joe Dean McGill, and Lula Mae Jefferies.
She leaves a legacy of love to her children, Elaine Rice (William) and Deborah Rice (Stanford) of Thomasville, NC, Angela Rice-Tucker (Carlos) of High Point, NC, and one gifted son, Perry Kilgore (Mae) of Bessemer City, NC; nine grandchildren, William Miguel (Alia), Aleisha Latoya, Maya, Candice (J.D.), Stanford “Bud”, Jr. (Rasheeda), Nyasha (Keith), Rashaad, Tarik, and Khyri and seven great-grandchildren: Zamani, Zaila, Aubrey, Jay, Darby, Alex, and Kaisley; sisters; Rosetta Gillespie of High Point, NC, Gladys Little (Robert) of Thomasville, NC, Inez Dawkins and Valerie Smith of Gaffney, SC; one brother, John McGill (Wanda) of Gastonia, NC; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Simpson of Flint, MI, Inez Manning and Selena Thompson of Gaffney, SC, Betty Rice of Shelby, NC, Julia Jolly of Charlotte, NC, Emily Rice of Boiling Springs, NC, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.