Sandra Flowers Rice

Sandra Flowers Rice passed away peacefully on July 14, 2025, after a battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Sandy was born August 23, 1947, in Jesup, GA and graduated from Jesup High School in 1965. To her Jesup friends and family, she was always known as Sandra; to many others, she was affectionately called Sandy, and to her five much-loved grandchildren, she was simply "Sassy."

Sandy earned a BA degree in Education at the University of Georgia and completed her M.Ed. at the University of West Georgia. She taught Special Education for more than 30 years, serving first at Glynn Academy, then at Brunswick High School, and finally at St. Simons Elementary. During her three decades of service, Sandy also spent three years working with the West Georgia Regional Education Service and teaching at Central High School when her husband's business interest briefly relocated the couple to Carrollton, GA.

Sandy was married to Bobby Rice from 1985 until his death in 2020. They were quite the gregarious couple who enjoyed frequent social outings with long-time friends. Sandy was known for her love of gardening, cooking, decorating, and entertaining. An energetic and enthusiastic hostess, Sandy filled her home with warmth, love, music, laughter, delicious food, and seasonal flowers from her well-tended garden. Her friends and family eagerly anticipated holidays and dinner parties at the Rices' house where the bar was always open at 5 o'clock, and the decorations were legendary.

Sandy had a deep love for all animals, especially horses. She spent her youth and young adult years working at the Sea Island Stables, where some of her colleagues said she spent as much time on four legs as she did on her own two. Besides horses, she adored her cats and dogs, her birds, her raccoons, her deer, and almost every other 4-legged critter. Once, she even nursed a severely injured baby squirrel back to life. When not at the stables, in the kitchen, or in her garden, Sandy could often be found on the beach with her 11th Street Beach Club crew.

Sandy was an active member of Christ Church, Frederica for over 40 years, serving in various capacities including vestry, Sunday School teacher, Altar Guild, Wedding Guild, Newcomers' Guild, Tour of Homes committee, and Faithworks.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Robert Flowers and Dora McCranie Flowers; her husband, Robert (Bobby) Williams Rice; and her brothers, Bob Flowers and Dan Flowers. She is survived by her two daughters, Shannon Watson Ball (David) and Morgan Watson, and her five grandchildren: Christopher Ball, William Ball, Joseph Ball, Maia Detore (Richard), and Ian Watson-Shulhan. She is also survived by her first husband and the father of her daughters, Doyle Watson and his wife Lee; her in-laws, Jim and Jane Watson; and her long-time devoted friends Beth and Mickey Carley, Emmy Minor, Libby Barns (Johnny), Susan Blakely, and Libby Matthews.

A funeral service will be held at 4:00 on Sunday, July 20, at Christ Church, Frederica with a reception to follow in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CurePSP Foundation: www.psp.org/donate.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Hospice of the Golden Isles for the attentive and compassionate care they provided to Sandy.

Arrangements entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home. www.edomillerandsons.com