Doris Boyd Rice, a longtime Greensboro resident, died peacefully on Monday, August 26, 2019 in Sarasota, Florida after a short illness. She was born on March 30, 1917 in Morehead City, North Carolina to Nannie Holley Boyd and Elihu Boyd Sr. Her early education was in the Carteret County Public School System followed by High School at St. Francis De Sales Institute in Richmond, Virginia graduating in 1934. She enrolled at N.C. Agricultural and Technical College in 1934 majoring in Commercial Education. In her senior year (1937) she became engaged to Dr. Waverlyn N. Rice, Jr., a professor at the college and they were married on December 26, 1938. After graduating from N.C. A &T University, Doris taught for two years in Wadesboro N.C. before returning to Greensboro to begin her family. She and Waverlyn were the proud parents of three boys, Vincent, Turner and Philip.

A love of her life was her Catholic faith and work at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Gorrell Street. She was very involved with all aspects of her boys' education at St. Mary's Catholic School, Notre Dame High School, and Mt. Saint Charles in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Doris's second love at St. Mary's was the music ministry. She planned most of the music program and played the piano and organ at St. Mary's for over a half century, not only on Sundays but all major Catholic holy days. Mrs. Rice started piano lessons at an early age in her hometown. The nuns learned of her piano skills and requested that she play at the local Catholic Church. This led to her receiving a recommendation that she attend St. Francis De Sales where she played for masses, concerts and other events when called upon. She had a fulfilling career at Bennett College for over 40 years where she served as a secretary and assistant registrar under three Bennett College Presidents. She is survived by her son Vincent, daughter-in-law Bernadine, grandson Darryl and granddaughter Melissa, grand niece Karen and other cousins and friends.

A funeral mass will be held at Saint Mary's Catholic Church Greensboro on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 11:00 am. Internment will be at Guilford Memorial Cemetery. Donations, if desired may be sent to the American Heart Association.