Hollis Nealene (Copeland) Rice passed away on November 12, 2015 at the age of 89. She was born on May 20, 1926 to Edgar Russell and Foy Dell (Holliday) Copeland in County Line, Arkansas. Hollis married Robert Lewis Rice on March 31, 1951 in Dallas, Texas. He preceded her in death on August 17, 1987. She was a member of the Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas where she continued her love of Sunday School teaching. Hollis devoted her life to teaching Sunday School at various churches for over fifty years of her life; she was a much beloved teacher. Hollis loved to read, cook, sew, crochet and craft. Her family received many gifts from Hollis that she crafted herself.
She is survived by her son, John Robert Rice and wife Hope of Spring, Texas; daughters, Allyson Rice of Troy, Missouri, Lois Walker of Terrell, Texas, and Gloria Rice of Dallas, Texas; sister, Pearl Mann of Dallas, Texas; brothers, Cecil Copeland and wife Joy of Nevada, Texas, Eugene Copeland of Wake Village, Texas, and Harold Copeland and wife Donna of Fort Smith, Arkansas; numerous grandchildren, nieces, and nephews; and a host of other loving family and friends.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Lois Copeland, Iris Stone, Emogene Thompson, Edna Isbell; brothers, Clovis Copeland, Charles Copeland and John Copeland; infant daughter, Judy Ann Rice; daughter, Neilene Howe; son-in-law, Denny Howe; and grandson, Jeffrey D. Ward.
Pallbearers are Cecil Copeland, Harold Copeland, John P. Walker, James A. Walker, John R. Rice and Samuel Howe. Honorary pallbearers are Eugene Copeland, Robert Howe and Joseph Howe.
Hollis also supported the Angel Tree project of the Dallas Baptist Assoc. and The White Rock Center of Hope. It was her wish that any memorial donations would be given to the WR Center of Hope.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church, 9810 La Prada Dr. in Dallas, Texas. Prior to that service will be a visitation at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Monday evening, November 16, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.