Jeanette Doris Rice

It is with deepest sorrow that I announce the passing of my sweet wife, Jeanette on February 11, 2021. She was predeceased by both her parents, Marvin and Jean Byrum. Jeanette was born at Norfolk General in January 1953. She graduated from Norview High School in 1971 and right after graduation went to work at Norfolk General in the Laboratory. Jeanette later obtained her Bachelor degree from Old Dominion University and transferred to Sentara Occupational health where she worked for 42 years.

Jeanette is survived by her husband David; they were married for 29 years but best friends for over 40 years. Jeanette is also survived by her four children, she loved them dearly, Dana Marshall (Jay), Daniel Rice, Rachael Peachock (Luke), and Adam Rice (Layne). She loved all her children plus her ten grandchildren. Jeanette is also survived by her brother David Byrum and nephew Christian Byrum both of Tampa, Florida.

Jeanette was warm, kind and compassionate, she loved her family, friends, and all the wonderful people she worked with. Jeanette had a smile, a laugh and a sense of humor that reflected her true kind heart. Jeanette loved her family gatherings and dressing up with the grandkids and playing games that she had created just for them. Jeanette had many talents, she did crafts and painting all her life but her love of painting grew after retiring. She pursued her interest in painting with a passion, she said it brought her true joy. She loved her times with her dear friends at work and in her service fraternity but her times with her paint buddies at the Botanical Gardens brought her peace. Jeanette and David had the fortune to travel to many places where Jeanette would sketch out ideas for her painting and then spent hours painting them.

Jeanette was a member of First Baptist Church of Norfolk, during the last twenty years she developed a deep love for God, and developed loving friendships with her church family.