Mary Lou Knox Rice was born March 19, 1938, to Henry Brown Sr. and Carrie Knox in Paulette, Mississippi. She departed this life on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at the Naxubee County Hospital in Macon, Mississippi.

Mary accepted Christ at the age of 11 and united with Savannah Missionary Baptist Church and later joined Woodlawn Christian Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of 16.

At the age of 16, she married her handsome groom, William G. Rice on November 6, 1954. To this union five children were born, three (3) boys and two (2) girls.

Mary worked at Sam’s Department Store in Macon, Mississippi until it closed. Afterwards, she was employed at a factory and retired from ICS Headstart after many years of service. While retired Mary enjoyed cooking and baking, shopping, and traveling with her grandchildren until they became adults turning her heart then to her great and great-great grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Brown, Sr. and Carrie Knox, son, Dennis Earl Rice, daughter, Jacqueline Rice Moore; granddaughter, Marilyn M. Rice; four (4) sisters, France Little, Lottie B. Knox, Oriabell Knox, Lillie Brown, five (5) brothers, Willie Knox, Robert Knox, Buddy Knox, Jo Brown, and Tom Brown.

To cherish her memories, Mary leaves her sons: Eddie (Rose) Rice, Theodis (Sandra) Rice both of Macon, MS; daughter, Caroline Rice-McDaniel of Indianola, MS; fourteen (14) grandchildren, Latasha (Edrick) Hopkins, Yulonda (Joey) Rogers, Laverna (Antwin) Edwards, Ashley (Orlando) Robinson, Toshiba Malone, Eddie R. Rice, Jr., Jereme Moore, Robinson, Alexis Robinson all of Macon, MS; Krystal (Kevin) Morris, Southaven, MS; Jimmie L. (Adrian)Moore, Birmingham, AL; Raphael (Melissa) Robinson, Lawrenceville, GA; 39 great grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren, four (4) brothers, Author (Shell) Ivy, Jr. Meridian, MS; Julius (Jackie) Ivy, St. Louis, MO; James Ivy, and Rev. Willie (Sherry) Ivy, both of Macon, MS; five (5) sisters, Ollie Henderson, Chicago, IL; Rose P. Brown, East St. Louis, MO; France (Louis) Wallace, Barlett, IL; Betty Knox, Aliceville, AL; Ruby (Larry) Kennedy, Jackson, MS; three (3) sisters-in-love, Ethel R. Williams, Omaha, NE; Flora R. Williams, Elgin, IL; Lucille Pundiman, Chicago, IL; 2 brothers-in-love, Edward G. Rice, Willie G. Stuart, both of Elgin, IL; Godchildren, Curtis (Larasha) Rice, Elgin, IL; Eddie B. Robinson, Jr., Edward Robinson, Zachary Webb, Burt Bonner, LaFayette (Deloria) Stewart, Maurice (Eva) Sanders, Angela (Marquis) Miller, Ada Windham, Bessie (Rodothas) Johnson, Vernessa F. Tippett, Nellie Taylor, Mariah Cheatham, a special cousin, Hattie Knox Bell of Midlothian, TX; daughter-in-law, Tina Rice, Indianola, MS, son-in-love, Jimmie (Lena) Moore of Macon, MS; a host of nieces, nephews, close friends, Mattie Jackson, Essie Brooks, and Center Christian Methodist Episcopal Church family, and other relatives and friends.