Adelle Unis Rice, 104, passed away on May 26, 2018 at Highland Home Nursing Center surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 29 from 9 – 11 am at St. Richard Catholic Church with the Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11 am at the church. Burial to follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery.
Adelle was born on April 29, 1914, in Tyler Texas to Charles and Comana Manziel Unis. She was a 1934 graduate of Tyler Business College. In 1935, she met Joe G. Rice in Jackson at the annual convention of the Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs. The two were married on February 9, 1936 in Tyler and began their life together in Jackson. They worked side by side for decades as owners of Rice’s Food Store in Jackson and City Grocery & Market in Raymond. Adelle was a charter member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and later a longtime parishioner of Holy Family Catholic Church. Adelle was very active in the Cedars of Lebanon Club. She was a charter member and served as Secretary-Treasurer for over 40 years. Adelle was also an active member in the Knights of Columbus Ladies’ Auxiliary.
Adelle was very proud of her Lebanese heritage and her Catholic faith. She was an accomplished Lebanese cook and enjoyed cooking Sunday lunch for family and friends until she was 96 years old. As a young couple, Joe and Adelle entertained priests from many parishes across the Diocese of Jackson. They enjoyed serving those who ministered to them. One of their close friends and regular attendants at Sunday lunch was the Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Brunini.
Adelle had a great devotion to her Catholic faith and was a most fervent prayer of the Rosary. Those who knew her well could sense her devout spirit and felt that her prayers would truly be heard. As a result, friends and family would often come by her home or call to ask Adelle to pray for a special intention. She prayed that friends would pass the Bar Exam, prayed that her grandchildren would pass a particular test or receive a job opportunity, the list is quite long. It was a beautiful gift that she shared with so many who loved her and appreciated her love of the Catholic faith and her positive, loving spirit. Adelle would bless everyone who entered her home and sent them off with the sign of the Cross. She was a blessing to everyone who knew her.
Adelle was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Joe G. Rice, and her parents Charles and Comana Unis and her siblings, Estelle U. Clark, Marie U. Elias, Tom C. Unis, Sr., Mitchell G. Unis and Victoria U. Smith, all of Texas. She is survived by her three children, Mary Anne Lefoldt, and her husband, Larry of Madison, Yesmine McCollum and her husband Robbie of Madison and Joe G. Rice, Jr and his wife Madelyn of Ridgeland and her five grandchildren, Lisa Lefoldt Nowell (John), Amy Lefoldt Dutton (David), Natalie Lefoldt Arnemann (Michael), Joseph Rice III, and Paul M. Rice (Christine) and 6 great grandchildren.
The family would like to especially thank Adelle’s caregivers, Anne Marie Houck and Kattie Samuels for their wonderful and selfless love and compassion. The family would also like to thank the outstanding staff of Highland Home, many of which became part of Adelle’s extended family, especially in the last months of her life.
Memorials can be made to the Joe G. Rice and Adelle Unis Rice Trust for Seminarian Education c/o The Catholic Foundation, Diocese of Jackson, P. O. Box 2248, Jackson, MS 39225 or to a charity of your choice.
