Harold Rice

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, January 26, 2018, at Sunset Funeral Home in Northport. The funeral service will be Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Buhl Baptist Church with the Rev. AIfred Banks and the Rev. Glenn Kennedy officiating. Burial will immediately follow in Cornelius Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery with Sunset Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clay and Ola Rice; his brother, Ward Rice; and his sisters, Miriam Walker and Mearl Rice.

Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Myrtle Skelton Rice; his daughters, Brenda Southern (James) of Buhl, Marilyn Jones (Sonny) of Buhl and Deidra Laird (Wesley) of Opp, Ala.; brother, Daniel Rice (Betty) of Pine Bluff, Ark.; his grandchildren, Craig Southern of Park Hills, Mo., Jason Southern (April) of Tuscaloosa, Jeremy Jones (Tina) of Northport, Jeff Jones (Jenni) of Northport, Laken Patton (David) of Huntsville, and Leah McCain (Ben) of Huntsville; fourteen great- grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Harold retired from Alabama Gas Corporation after 43 years of service and has served the Buhl community for many years as a member of the board of the Buhl, Elrod, Holman Water Authority. He has been a member of Buhl Baptist Church for over 70 years, serving as its Treasurer for over 20 years and as an active deacon for about 40 years.

Harold never met a stranger and still has many friends throughout the Tuscaloosa area. He loved to play dominoes and to be with Gary Lewis and his breakfast buddies at Rama Jama. He delighted in his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and his great-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Craig Southern, Jason Southern, Jeremy Jones, Jeff Jones, David Patton, Ben McCain, Kaleb Southern and Clayton Southern.

Honorary pallbearers will be Alagasco retirees, Gary Lewis and his breakfast buddies at Rama Jama, his LLL Club friends, Buhl Water Board members, the Buhl Baptist Church family, and the Buhl community.

The family wishes to pay special thanks to the many workers of Aspire of Northport and Comfort Care Hospice. We greatly appreciate their help during a very difficult time.