Helen Norvell Rice

Helen Norvell Rice, age 88 of Jacksonville, Florida, went to be with the Lord on September 1, 2026 at the home of her daughter. She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.

The middle child of Venie Lee Norvell (Wood), and Robert Francis Norvell, she was born on March 28, 1938, in Crockett County, Tennessee. In 1957, she graduated with honors from Haywood High School, Brownsville, Tennessee. Helen excelled academically and tutored others during her high school years.

In that same year, 1957, she met and married her husband, Farris Neil Rice. They were married 69 years. They began their lives together in Memphis Tennessee, then moving to Winston Salem, North Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, and ending up in Jacksonville, Florida, which became the family home for the past 55 years.

Helen’s first job was with Kimco Automotive, managing inventory, in Memphis, Tennessee. Throughout the years Helen worked in secretarial and bookkeeping jobs, while taking a break to raise her children. She retired from Unijax Paper Company when she was in her fifties and began helping her husband manage his business.

Helen was dedicated to her family, she was supportive, loving and willing to do anything for them. Family was everything to Helen and she love spending time with them, including taking trips to the mountains and Disney World with her kids and grandkids.

Helen dearly loved all of her dogs and cats; she was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening in her younger years.

Helen Norvell Rice was preceded in death by her husband, Farris Neil Rice; her parents, Venie Lee Norvell and Robert Francis Norvell; her sister, Francis Lee McCool; her former son-in-law, William (Bill) Henry Peacock; and her beloved grandson, Bradford Neil Peacock.

She is survived by her children, Anita Peacock Brown (Dennis) of Middleburg, Florida, and Jeffery Neil Rice of Jacksonville, Florida; her granddaughter, Kayla Leigh Peacock (Jake); her great-grandchildren, Draven Neil Peacock (Mari) of Hico, Texas, Banks William Bradford Peacock, and Tatum Blake Giannini; and her brother, James Robert Norvell (Judy) of Cordova, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gentiva Hospice, 8130 Baymeadows Way W, Ste 201, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

A graveside service for Helen Norvell Rice will be held Monday, September 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home and Cemetery, 850 St Johns Bluff Rd N, Jacksonville, FL 32225.