Nell Ray Rice

Services for Nell Ray Chastain Rice will be held Friday, December 20, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Tim Filston and Dr. Jay Howell officiating. Interment will be at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Rice passed away on December 16, 2019. She was born on January 14, 1927, in Thomasville to the late Truman Chastain and the late Hazel Smith Chastain. She was married to Thomas E. Rice until his death 52 years later. She was a very active member at First Presbyterian Church for 68 years. Nell Ray was an excellent seamstress, and she handmade Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls among other things. She loved hosting family and friends for meals. She enjoyed working in the family business at Toscoga Seed Company. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Thomas E., Jr. and Nan Rice; daughter and son-in-law, Nelray and George R. Lilly, II; grandchildren, Thomas E. Rice, III (Stephanie), Sarah Nanette Rice, Frances Rice Lilly Howell (Jay), Laura Nelray Lilly Cotten (Graham), George R. Lilly, III (McClain); great-grandchildren, Solon Rice, Finn Stringer, and Jack Howell. She was preceded in death by her husband; sister, Doris Chastain Pate; brother, Osborne Chastain. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The First Presbyterian Church of Thomasville World Missions Conference at 225 E. Jackson, Thomasville, GA, 31792 or The Thomasville YMCA at 103 S. Dawson St, Thomasville, GA, 31792. The family will receive friends after the service in the Fellowship Hall. Friends and family are invited to visit her online memorial tribute page at www.allenfh.com .