Montgomery, Al - On Tuesday afternoon, January 1, 2016, Mrs. Doris Walden Rice silently entered into eternal rest, with her loving children, James and Sonja at her side.

Mrs. Doris Walden Rice was born on March 5, 1940 in Beachton, GA to the late Blanche and Melvin Walden. Both parents preceded her in death as well as four brothers, Melvin Alonzo Walden, Beachton, GA; Plez Oliver Walden, Detroit, MI; Theodore Walden, Detroit, MI and Brownlee Walden, Philadelphia, PA; two sisters, Shirley Smith, Detroit, MI and Vascile Faulk, Richland, GA.&

Doris dedicated her life to Christ at an early age. She joined the family church; Evergreen Congregational United Church of Christ in Beachton, GA and served faithfully until she moved to Fort Valley, GA where she joined and became a devoted member of St. Peter AME Church for 50 years. While at St. Peter she was very active in the church choir, Women's Progressive Club and many other organizations.

After graduating from Washington Consolidated High School in Cairo, GA she came to Fort Valley to continue her studies at Fort Valley State University. She graduated in 1965 with a B.S. in Education. While at FVSU she was very active in the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She taught kindergarten for the Peach County School System for 38 years. She was a devoted teacher who loved all of her students. She was passionate about her students. She touched many lives in the community through her teaching.

She leaves to cherish her memory now and always: a devoted son Rev. James D. Rice (Arketa), Montgomery, AL; a loving daughter Dr. Sonja Rice, Stone Mountain, GA; two brothers Melrose Walden (Annie), Beachton, GA and Roosevelt Walden, Detroit, MI; one sister Melissa Robinson, Jacksonville, FL; two grandchildren Darius Mackey, Stone Mountain, GA and Miles Rice, Montgomery, AL; a host of other family members and many sorrowing friends.

She was an amazing and faithful woman of God who was loved by all those that knew her.