Kathryn Cameron Boyd Rice died peacefully on April 5, 2019, at the age of 97. A memorial celebration of her life will be held at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art in Tuscumbia on Friday, May 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. Throughout her life, she inspired her family and friends of all ages by her love for life, her joyful laughter, her independent spirit, her love of learning, and her inquiring mind.
Born on Christmas Day to Margaret Rebecca and Robert Lester Boyd, “Kaki,” as she was known to her Alabama friends, grew up in a three-generation household, sustained and nurtured by her beloved grandparents, Owen and Kate Cameron. She graduated from Sheffield High School, attended Huntingdon College, where she served as freshman class president, and then transferred to the Harris School of Advertising Design in Nashville to begin her professional training for a career in art and design. Throughout her life, she continued her art studio studies in graphic design, painting, sculpture, or jewelry design wherever she lived. Her early training led to positions as art director for ad agencies in New York and Memphis, as partner in a design studio in Memphis, and as instructor in drawing at the Memphis College of Art.
Her marriage to Dr. William Huckaba of Florence led her to Memphis, where she made life-long friends and won many professional awards for her work in advertising design. She was instrumental in the selection of the site on the Mississippi River for the First Unitarian Church of Memphis, now known as The Church of the River, one of her proudest achievements. She was a charter member and president of the Memphis Chapter of the National Society of Art Directors, served on the board of the Memphis Academy of Art, and was a charter member of the Wolf River Society.
Her later marriage to Dimitri Georgiadis took them to homes in Upper Montclair, NJ, Toronto, Ontario, and Mexico City and to travels around the world. She moved to Tucson, Arizona, in 1983, where she served on many art committees and the board of the Arizona Children’s Home. Wherever her home, she made lasting friendships that she nurtured over the years.
Her marriage to Dr. John Rice, a friend among a close circle of friends since their days in Sheffield, brought her back to Alabama. Here she continued as a devoted supporter of the arts. She was active in the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts and served on the art committee of the Florence Public Library. Her greatest commitment to supporting arts in the Shoals area was her 24-year association with the Tennessee Valley Art Association where she served on the board and became the first president of its Foundation for Endowment. She also served on the board of the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of the Shoals and enjoyed membership in UNA’s Institute for Learning in Retirement, especially its Great Books program, as well as the book groups of the Shoals American Association of University Women.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mary Martin McIntyre; brother, Robert Baxter Boyd; and husband, Dr. John B. McFerrin Rice.
She is survived by her stepsons, Dr. Steven Rice and Robert Rice (Nancy); stepdaughter, Carol Rice Hughes; stepgrandchildren Anne Kathryn Rice Larizza (Santo), Michael Rice, Laura Hughes Waters (John), Clay Hughes (Katie); nieces, Margaret Martin McCloy; Kathryn Martin Morrow (Dave), Elizabeth Martin Munson (Jim), Peggy Boyd Long; nephew, John C. Martin Jr. (Sharon); great-nieces, Margaret McCloy Custer (Jason), Lydia Martin, Caddie Martin, Kate Davis, Brittany Long; great-nephews, Travis Martin, Matthew Davis, Cameron Long; four great- grandchildren and a favorite cousin, Katherine Boyd Palnick (Larry).
The family wishes to thank the physicians, the caregivers of Elder Care, and the medical staff of the palliative care unit of the North Alabama Medical Center for their care and support during this last year of her life.
Morrison Funeral Home is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Graveside services for the family will be held at Oakwood Cemetery, Sheffield.
Memorials may be made to Shoals art organizations or libraries or any charity of the donor’s choice.
