Cassandra “Renee” Rice Gray-El was born on November 20, 1954 in Madison County, Alabama to Virgil Rice, Sr. and Lois Rice Gurley (Archie).
She accepted Christ as her personal savior and united with Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church where she was a devoted member until her health would not allow her to attend.
Renee attended S.R. Butler High School and received her high school diploma. After graduating from high school, she briefly attended J.F. Drake State Technical College.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Ivey L. Rice and Virgil Rice, Jr. She leaves to cherish her precious memories: two daughters, Ursula M. Rice-El (Hombre) Butler and Uushall M. Rice (Kareem) Brown of Maryland, and a daughter she raised and loved as her own, Danielle Gray-El of Washington, DC; two granddaughters, Saddiquah A.C.R. Rice-El and Kassydi Auhnye Brown; three grandsons, Trequell R. Rice, Taiheim R. Rice and Kareem A. Brown, Jr. all of Maryland; three devoted brothers, Tommie L. Rice, Franklin D. Harris, and Charles F. Harris and additional Rice siblings all of Huntsville, Alabama; six uncles, Joe W. Readus, Larry A. Griffin and Clayborn L. Griffin all of Nashville, TN, Walter Rice, James Rice, and Lewis Rice all of Huntsville, AL; one devoted aunt who was like a sister, C. Denise Morris of Nashville, TN; four devoted cousins who were like brothers and sisters, Howard E. Gaines II, Travis K. Hereford, Constance P. Steele and Glistopher F. Gaines; a very special nephew, Adrian J. Gaines; two loving god-daughters, Charlene M. Stanley and Valerie L. Edwards; A friend who she called “Sissy”, Olivia “Peppa” Tyler all of Huntsville, AL and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2013, at the Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church (315 Winchester Road, Huntsville, AL 35811) with Dr. O. Wendell Davis officiating. Interment will be in the Meadowlawn Garden of Peace. Mrs. Rice will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time.
Public Viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, 2013; and from 8:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2013, at the Royal Funeral Home.
