1934
Lillian
2021
Lillian Elaine Turner Rice
April 6, 1934 — December 9, 2021
Lillian Elaine Turner Rice, 87, of Macon, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 9, 2021. She was born in East Point, GA, on April 6, 1934 to the late Samuel Claude Turner, Sr. and Lillie Gay Short Turner. Lillian lived in Macon for the past 60+ years.
Lillian was a graduate of William A. Russell High School in East Point where she was elected Senior Superlative and Most Likely to Succeed. She served as captain of the girls' varsity basketball team and twirled baton as co-captain of the majorettes.
After graduation from high school, Lillian worked as an Executive Secretary with Colonial Stores in Atlanta where she met her former husband and the father of her children, James Ross Rice. She was a stay at home mother for a decade while raising her 2 daughters whom she referred to as the "joys of her life".
Lillian volunteered as a Pink Lady at Macon Hospital (Medical Center Navicent/Atrium Health) in the 1960's. Later, she served as the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Central GA from 1969-1984 where she founded and directed The Friendship House, an outpatient mental health center providing psychiatric patients with the resources to reintegrate into life post-hospitalization.
Ever civic-minded, Lillian ran for public office and became the first woman to be elected at large to the Bibb County Board of Education where she served from 1979-1982.
Her heart for helping the mentally challenged and economically disenfranchised continued as she worked both as Director of the Cornerstone Day Treatment Program in Ft. Valley, GA and District Coordinator for Continuum Alliance for Human Development.
From 1988-2002 Lillian served as an Administrative Coordinator and Project Administrator for the Mercer University School of Medicine, Departments of Surgery & Family Medicine. During her time at Mercer, Lillian co-authored research along with her distinguished colleagues and friends Dr. Maury Solis, Dr. John Rogers, and Dr. Martin Dalton. She cared deeply for her students and lovingly shepherded them as the Coordinator of the Senior Medical Student Clerkship Program.
After retirement, Lillian joyfully worked for 17 years as a Boar's Head Demo Lady at Publix, Kroger and Ingles stores in Macon, Forsyth and Gray, GA. She was the beloved smiling face who created delicious delights for her adored customers and coworkers.
Her interests in community service and education were vast. She was highly accomplished and served as a Board Member for multiple local agencies including Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Bibb County Crisis Line, March of Dimes, Project Head Start, and the Health Systems Agency of Central GA. She was a member of the Association of Surgical Education, the Association of Academic Surgical Administrators, and the League of Women Voters of Bibb County.
Lillian had a lifelong passion for flowers, plants and flower arranging. She was an Accredited National Council Master Flower Show Judge Emeritus (1967-present), an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Thornwood Garden Club of Macon, and served as President and Charter Member of Designer's Critique Study Club of Macon.
Higher education was a priority for Lillian and after raising her children she proudly earned an AA in Psychology from Macon State College, and both a BS in Psychology and a MS in Service Management from Mercer University.
Lillian was a member of First Baptist Church of Christ of Macon. She loved her church family and the fellow members of her Seeker's Sunday School Class.
Left to cherish her memory are her beloved daughters Jan Rice Kunzelmann of Macon, and Jill Rice Hanke (Stephen) of Kennesaw, grandchildren Young VanSant of Macon, Anna McArthur Taylor of Macon, Hunter Kunzelmann of Athens, Chandler Hanke and Hayden Hanke of Kennesaw, and great-granddaughter Ava Laine Taylor of Macon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Crisis Line & Safe House of Central Georgia (CL-SH.org), National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI.org) or First Baptist Church of Christ of Macon (FBCXMacon.org).
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services has charge of arrangements.
Friends may sign the online register at www.fairhavenmacon.com.
Lillian was a graduate of William A. Russell High School in East Point where she was elected Senior Superlative and Most Likely to Succeed. She served as captain of the girls' varsity basketball team and twirled baton as co-captain of the majorettes.
After graduation from high school, Lillian worked as an Executive Secretary with Colonial Stores in Atlanta where she met her former husband and the father of her children, James Ross Rice. She was a stay at home mother for a decade while raising her 2 daughters whom she referred to as the "joys of her life".
Lillian volunteered as a Pink Lady at Macon Hospital (Medical Center Navicent/Atrium Health) in the 1960's. Later, she served as the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Central GA from 1969-1984 where she founded and directed The Friendship House, an outpatient mental health center providing psychiatric patients with the resources to reintegrate into life post-hospitalization.
Ever civic-minded, Lillian ran for public office and became the first woman to be elected at large to the Bibb County Board of Education where she served from 1979-1982.
Her heart for helping the mentally challenged and economically disenfranchised continued as she worked both as Director of the Cornerstone Day Treatment Program in Ft. Valley, GA and District Coordinator for Continuum Alliance for Human Development.
From 1988-2002 Lillian served as an Administrative Coordinator and Project Administrator for the Mercer University School of Medicine, Departments of Surgery & Family Medicine. During her time at Mercer, Lillian co-authored research along with her distinguished colleagues and friends Dr. Maury Solis, Dr. John Rogers, and Dr. Martin Dalton. She cared deeply for her students and lovingly shepherded them as the Coordinator of the Senior Medical Student Clerkship Program.
After retirement, Lillian joyfully worked for 17 years as a Boar's Head Demo Lady at Publix, Kroger and Ingles stores in Macon, Forsyth and Gray, GA. She was the beloved smiling face who created delicious delights for her adored customers and coworkers.
Her interests in community service and education were vast. She was highly accomplished and served as a Board Member for multiple local agencies including Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Bibb County Crisis Line, March of Dimes, Project Head Start, and the Health Systems Agency of Central GA. She was a member of the Association of Surgical Education, the Association of Academic Surgical Administrators, and the League of Women Voters of Bibb County.
Lillian had a lifelong passion for flowers, plants and flower arranging. She was an Accredited National Council Master Flower Show Judge Emeritus (1967-present), an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Thornwood Garden Club of Macon, and served as President and Charter Member of Designer's Critique Study Club of Macon.
Higher education was a priority for Lillian and after raising her children she proudly earned an AA in Psychology from Macon State College, and both a BS in Psychology and a MS in Service Management from Mercer University.
Lillian was a member of First Baptist Church of Christ of Macon. She loved her church family and the fellow members of her Seeker's Sunday School Class.
Left to cherish her memory are her beloved daughters Jan Rice Kunzelmann of Macon, and Jill Rice Hanke (Stephen) of Kennesaw, grandchildren Young VanSant of Macon, Anna McArthur Taylor of Macon, Hunter Kunzelmann of Athens, Chandler Hanke and Hayden Hanke of Kennesaw, and great-granddaughter Ava Laine Taylor of Macon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Crisis Line & Safe House of Central Georgia (CL-SH.org), National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI.org) or First Baptist Church of Christ of Macon (FBCXMacon.org).
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services has charge of arrangements.
Friends may sign the online register at www.fairhavenmacon.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lillian Elaine Turner Rice, please visit our flower store.
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