Mrs Stephanie Payton Rice

Statesboro, GA Mrs. Stephanie Payton Rice was born November 9, 1966 to Edward Johnson and Carolyn Lanier. She attended school at Our Lady of Devine Shepherd Catholic School in Mercer County, New Jersey. Upon relocating to Metter, Ga, she continued her education in Candler County schools and graduated from Metter High School in 1985. Stephanie was a loving and hardworking woman. She was employed at Claxton Poultry Farms for ten years and later gained employment at Briggs and Stratton in Statesboro, Ga, until her health began to decline. Mrs. Rice passed into eternal rest on Sunday, August 18,2019 at the Augusta University Medical Center. Stephanie was a devoted wife and mother. She also claimed the title of "mom and auntie" to many children in the community. Mrs. Rice was preceded in death by her daughters, Tamara Waters and Ebony Waters, her paternal grandparents, Issac "Pat" Johnson and Willie Lee Johnson and her maternal grandparents Robert Harvey and Sallie Mae Kennedy and one sister Alice Payton. She leaves to cherish her memories; husband, Anthony Rice, Statesboro, GA, son, Bryant Payton-Smith, Washington, DC, daughter, Shekia(Timothy) Cornell, Statesboro, GA, her father, Edward Johnson, Savannah, Ga, her mother Carolyn (Theo) Lanier, Statesboro, Ga, two brothers, Wendell Harvey and Willie Payton both of Statesboro, GA, two sisters, Dawn Johnson and Nicolette Johnson both of Savannah, GA, three sister-in-laws, Brenda (Billy) Howard, Bridgett (Walter) Campbell and Cheryl Johnson, all of Statesboro, GA, eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild ,three God Children and a host of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and friends. The family visitation will be held on Friday August 23, 2019 from 7 PM to 8 PM at the Ben Samuel Hill Memorial Chapel of Hill's Mortuary, Inc. Mrs. Rice will lie in state at Elm Street Church of God at 1 pm until the service hour. There will be no viewing after the eulogy. The funeral service for Mrs. Rice will be held 2 p.m Saturday, August 24, 2019 the Elm Street Church of God, 29 Elm Street Statesboro, Ga 30458 with the pastor, Elder Alexander Smith Jr., officiating Interment will follow at the Lakeside First Baptist Church Cemetery, Hwy 46 Metter, Ga Final Rites have been entrusted to Hill's Mortuary Inc.

Mrs Stephanie Payton Rice

November 9, 1966 - August 18, 2019