(Due to Covid-19 concerns, all who attend the graveside service are REQUIRED to wear a face mask and practice social distancing)
Doris (Eloise) Gudger Rice was born on May 21, 1940 to the late James and Mary Lee Gudger. Doris departed this life on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. She is preceded in death by her youngest son, Darian Rice and two sisters Anna Faye Galloway and Carolyn Ligon.
Doris was lifelong member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Stephens Lee High School Class of “1957”.
Doris worked for some years at Swannanoa Juvenile Detention Center as a cabin mother. She later went to work for the Buncombe County Child Development as a van driver and teacher assistant at the “Hillcrest Day Care Center”. Her last years of working was at Mission Hospital at “Café 509” as it was then called. She worked there 15 years. After she retired, she worked as a volunteer for “Land of the Sky” as a foster grandparent. In her down time, she loved watching the “Game Show Network”, specifically Jeopardy, The Chase, Chain Reaction and Family Feud.
Left to cherish her memory are three sons, Kenneth Rice, Jr. of Greenville SC, Michael Rice and Johnathan Rice both of Asheville and two daughters Anne Rice and Tracey Rice Smith (Clinton) both of Asheville, four sisters Carrie Norton of Columbia, SC, Wanda Little of Charlotte NC, Sandra Grant (Louis) of Asheville and Bessie Gudger of Fairburn Ga, one brother James Gudger of Asheville, 12 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews and lifelong friends Marjorie Beard and Gladys Jackson.
Funeral Service for Mrs. Doris Gudger Rice will be held on Monday, February 15, 2021 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church at 1:00 pm located at 47 Eagle Street in Asheville NC. Burial immediately following at Sunset Cemetery located at 1138 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC. The funeral will be live-streamed on Avery's Memorial Chapel's Facebook page.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Doris Gudger Rice, please visit our floral store.