Grace Harper Rice

Grace E. Harper Rice, daughter of the late Calvin Harper and Jessie Brogdon, was born on May 27th, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland. She departed this life on August 11th, 2017 after a lengthy illness. Grace was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System, graduating from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. For many years she was employed by Howard Johnson Motor Lodge as a supervisor of housekeeping. After retiring from Howard Johnson, she was employed by Value City as a Switchboard Operator. She was a member of New Shiloh Baptist Church for 42 years. Grace was honored to be a Deacon who enjoyed singing on The Great Choir. She felt blessed serving communion to the sick and shut-in with the Bread of Life Home Visitation Ministry. Grace enjoyed attending and hosting various family functions. She had an embracing smile and an infectious laugh that would brighten the room. You knew Mother Dear was coming when you saw her in one of her many fashionable outfits and hats. You would see her hat before you saw her face. She enjoyed praying for family, friends, and others. She would shop until the malls closed. She loved to wear her high heels. Grace all through her years loved to dance and had a love for Jazz music. Grace loved to eat her soul food, especially pig’s feet with daughters, Gloria and Danita. In 1943 Grace married James Harry Williams and from their union they had eight children. In 1972, she married Purnell Rice, he died in November 1974. Grace made numerous friends wherever she went and will be sincerely missed by everyone who knew her especially, Carolyn A. Greene, her longtime friend of 42 years and devoted friend, Collette Epps. She was always true to friends and devoted to her family. Mother Dear spent the last years of her life in Woodbridge, Virginia, in the loving care of her daughter, Evelyn Small and her family. She thoroughly enjoyed her time there, chatting with Evelyn, watching her favorite televisions shows and listening to Gospel music. She also had the opportunity to attend many events, from little league baseball games to the “Cinderella Ball”. Grace was preceded her in death by: one son, Troy N. Williams; and brothers and sisters, William Harper, James Jabo Harper, Calvin Buster Harper, Charles Harper, Althea Harper, Rosella Harper and Ruby Harper. She leaves to cherish her loving memories: three sons, James H. Williams, Jr., Richard Michael Williams and Robert J. Williams; four daughters, Jacqueline L. Spriggs, Gloria Reed-Brown, Evelyn A. Small and Danita R. Blount; one brother, Robert J. Harper; two sons-in-law, Delatour C. Spriggs and Keith R. Small; one daughter-in-law, Shevonn Williams; twenty-five grandchildren, thirty-nine great-grandchildren, nineteen great-great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

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Grace Harper Rice

May 27, 1927 - August 11, 2017