Ruby Chandler Rice

Rice, Ruby Lois Chandler Ruby Rice, known to all as “Granny”, passed away on November 27, 2016 following a long illness. Born into a large family on January 13th, 1945 she was a lifelong resident of the Stone Mountain area. A graduate of Stone Mountain High School, Ruby married her childhood sweetheart, Ray Rice, on June 9th 1961. Their love endured the remaining 56 years of her life. After 30 years of service, Ruby retired as Food Service Manager at Annistown Elementary in Gwinnet County, returning for an additional six years to make sure the children of the school had the nutrition they needed. Ruby was a devote Christian attending Flat Shoals Primitive Baptist Church in Stockbridge. Outside of work her main interest in life was the grandchildren whom she doted over at every opportunity with food, care, and baseball lessons. Ruby’s loving nature made her a favorite of all the grandchildren. Ruby’s interests outside of family were gardening, cooking, and hummingbirds. She spent many hours in what she referred to as her “Flower Farm.” Comfortable with the outdoors, she once trained a wild hawk to come when she called. Ruby is survived by loving husband Thomas Raymond Rice, Jr.; daughter Jeannie Collins and husband Ron and their children Cassidy and Thomas of Atlanta; daughter Rhonda Spence and husband William and their children Ryan Parson (Jennifer), Miranda Bacon (Matt), Kristine Spence, Dudley Spence, Stewart Spence, and great grandchildren Kyleigh Hicks, Brantly Hicks, and Turner Murphy of Madison, GA; brother John Chandler of Tampa, Fl; sister Carolyn Puig (Joseph) of Tampa, FL; sister Patsy Swint (Marvin) of Tampa, FL; sister Janie Hare (Fred) of Tampa FL; sister Mary Ann Clark of Jefferson, GA; brother Thomas Chandler of Jefferson, GA; brother David Chandler of Conyers, GA; Visitation will be at Wages & Sons in Stone Mountain on Monday, November 28th from FIVE PM until SEVEN PM. Funeral Services will be held TWO PM Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at the Wages & Sons Stone Mountain Chapel, Interment will follow in the Melwood Cemetery