NOXUBEE COUNTY — Mary “Thee First Lady” Lou Knox Rice, 88, died May 28, 2026, at Noxubee General Hospital. 

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, at Woodlawn C.M.E. Church, with Vickie Tate officiating. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Friday, at Carter’s Funeral Services. Carter’s Funeral Services of Macon is in charge of arrangements. 

Mrs. Rice was born March 19, 1938, in Noxubee County, to the late Henry Brown Sr. and Carrie Knox. She was formally employed as a cook at ICS Head Start and she was a member of Woodlawn C.M.E. Church. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. William Glenn Rice; and children, Jorey Roggers and the Rev. Tom Ivy. 

She is survived by her children, Caroline Rice McDaniel of Indianola, Eddie B. Rice and Theodis Rice, both of Macon; siblings, Rev. Willie Ivy, Arthur Ivy Jr., Henry Brown Jr. and James Ivy, all of Macon, Francis Ivy Wallace of Bartlett, Illinois, Ollie Bell Henderson of Chicago, Illinois and Julius Ivy of St. Louis, Missouri; 14 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. 

Pallbearers will be Edrick Hopkins, Antwin Edwards, Eddie B. Robinson Jr., Burt Bonner, Jorey Roggers and Rev. Tom Ivy.