Herbert "Larry" Rice

Celebration of Life Service for Herbert “Larry” Rice, 82 of Pittsburg, will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Emmanuel Baptist Church with Reverend Raymond Vogtner and Reverend Steve Rice officiating.  Since this is a Celebration of Life Service, there will be no viewing, only viewing will be during the visitation on Friday evening.  Private interment will be in Macedonia Cemetery.

Larry was born March 22, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee.

His graduation into Heaven was on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at the age of 82.

Preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Carmen Rice, his grandparents Corinne and Herbert Taylor, two nieces Janet O’Neal and Penny Robertson.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Rice of 62 blessed years together.

One sister Barbara Pirtle of Ashville, North Carolina.

His children, daughter, Kathy White and husband, Randy of McKinney, TX; son, Steve Rice and wife, Deborah of Sherman, TX and son, Andy Rice and wife, Katie of Redwater, TX.

His grandchildren, Benjamin Don Rice, Christopher Andrew Rice, Ryan Nelson White, Timothy Jon Rice, Stephanie Brooke Rice, Britiani Paige Rice, Melodee Anne Rice and Katherine Grace Rice.

His Great-grandchildren, Cameryn Alyssa Rice, Sophia Hayden Rice, Maddox Benjamin Rice, Taylor Ashtyn Rice, Gabriel Timothy Rice, Veda Jaye Elliot Rice, Logan Addyson Rice.  Numerous nieces and nephews.

Larry became a Christian at the age of 12.  He began serving the Lord at the age of 16 as song leader for a group named Teenagers for Christ in Memphis, TN.  They had a Sunday Morning Radio Broadcast “Above the Clouds” with Larry leading the music and Don Johnson preaching.  The group travelled throughout the Mid-South area leading revivals and even held a crusade in the LeTourneau Dome in Longview, TX.  He served as Director of East Memphis Youth For Christ and Associate Director of Teenagers For Christ.  Helped direct “Above the Clouds” radio broadcast for youth.  Larry had always dreamed of playing professional baseball and had decided he would sign all his baseballs with the verse Romans 1:16  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”. He was a pitcher and in the process of signing with the St. Louis Cardinals when he attended a Billy Graham Crusade in Memphis and felt God calling him into full-time ministry service for the Lord.  He willingly gave up his lifelong dream of playing baseball to serve the Lord he so loved.

He finished his education at Memphis University and Mid-South Bible College-Memphis, TN.  He was formerly ordained into the ministry May 20, 1963.  Men associated with in Revivals: John R. Bisagno, Hyman J. Appleman, Hershal Ford, J. Sidlow Baxter, M. R. DeHann, Bob Harrington to name a few.  Churches served: Macon Road Baptist, Elliston Avenue Baptist, Thrifthaven Baptist, Richland Hills, Baptist, all of Memphis, TN and First Baptist Church of Marianna, AR.  He served as Youth Pastor at Gardendale Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, TX from 1968 till 1971.  While at Gardendale, he formed a youth singing group “The New Life Singers”.  They recorded one album, toured the country singing in various church related venues and were allowed to sing patriotic songs outside the gate of the Texas home of then President Lyndon B. Johnson waving small hand held American flags!

In July 18, 1971 he moved to First Baptist Church; Sherman, TX serving as Youth/Activities/Senior Adult Director/Associate Pastor.  He established the Triple LLL Club (“Live Long and Like It”) for senior adults planning trips to New York, Los Angeles, Canada, Hawaii, Alaskan cruise etc. etc.  He established another youth singing group “The Solid Rock”. Trained them and recorded six albums, “Part the Waters, Something Beautiful, Greater Is He, Since Jesus Came Into My Heart, Jesus is My Music and The Church Triumphant”.  They toured the United States singing in churches, Texas Youth Evangelism Conferences, etc.

In 1984 he became full-time pastor at Emmanuel Baptist in Pittsburg, TX, where he faithfully served a very loving body of believers until he resigned in April 2001 to co-found a faith-based ministry with his wife named “Hope for Hurting Hearts Ministry, Inc.”  Their mission to reach out to hurting people with the gospel of Jesus Christ (who is the Only One who can heal our hurts) primarily in the prisons, on their own, and also with the Bill Glass Champions for Life Prison Ministry and with Youth Direct, an arm of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  He also conducted church revivals, marriage, parenting and single adult retreats.  Served as interim pastor in several churches in Arkansas and Texas.  He was still serving as Director of this ministry along with his wife, Linda when we “graduated” to Heaven to see His Beloved Jesus and all the precious loved ones gone on before.  His heart’s desire was to see people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to “finish well” in service for his Lord.

Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 20, 2019, at Emmanuel Baptist Church.