Delma Carol Rice

On Saturday, March 14, 2026, in the wee hours of the morning, Delma Carol (Matthews) Rice inhaled her first breath of heaven just 13 days past her 87th birthday. She was born March 1, 1939, the eldest daughter of the late Clarence Cart Matthews and Leola (Dolen) Matthews Bellomy. She lost her beloved husband, our father, John Ray Rice, in 2019. She was additionally preceded in death by a younger sister, Linda Lou (Matthews) Walk, and a brother, Timothy Scott Bellomy.

She met our father while working at Carroll’s Truck Stop waiting tables and was married seven days after she turned 18. They built a life together—a dynasty—that served their family, their friends, and their community. They were together 62 years. He went before her, but she never dropped the torch.

Those left behind to both grieve her passing and stand in amazement of her incredible life are her five children: Kathy Ray (Rice) Childers and husband, David E. Childers; Tawna Lynn (Rice) Johnson and husband, Howard E. Johnson; Kim Yvette Rice-Preece, widowed; John Ray Rice II; and Carol Rice.

She had 11 grandchildren: Scott, Christopher, Michael, Kari, Todd, Bria, Alexis, Daniel, Jacob, Samantha, and John B.

She had 25 great-grandchildren: Mychal, Mychelle, Maki, Mariah, Christian, Riann, Lyra, Aris, Tennison, Briar, Asher, Brynn, Riley, Emmy Ray, Connor, Owen, John Douglas, Gabriel, Sullivan, Jonah, Josie, Ellis, Adalyn, Remy, Marley,

She also had seven great-great-grandchildren: Amyah, Ace, Ayla, Alayah, Akari, Amari, and Ashiya.

She is also survived by her sister, Lorna “Cookie” (Matthews) Perry and husband, John Edward Perry, and her brother, Darrell Matthews and wife, Donna Matthews.

She spent her life working to feed and support her family—from waiting tables as a teenager, to working swing shift at the Kerr Glass factory, to the neighborhood grocery store, Rice’s Market, where she worked side by side with our father. Mommy’s family didn’t stop at blood; she helped and supported her Kerr Glass family and our Altizer community family. No one went hungry in her presence.

Everyone believes their family to be great and wonderful through their own biased eye, and I am certain we are no different. But biased eyes or not, she was one of the Matriarchs of Altizer and the core of our family.

Mommy’s accomplishments were not noted on the scoreboards, the election polls, or the college certificates. Her accomplishments were giving us encouragement and push to put our names there. She never received the public accolades for the accomplishments she worked so hard to bring to fruition, but she deserved them more than we did.

To her family, she was strength, laughter, grit, and the true definition of unconditional love. We may be lost for a while, a little off kilter, but we will continue to make her proud and carry her torch.

Please join us as we celebrate her life in honor and remembrance of a well lived life.

Visitation and services will be held as follows:

Beard Mortuary, 3001 Third Avenue, Huntington, WV

Friday, March 20, 2026

Visitation at 12:00 p.m.

Funeral Service at 1:00 p.m.

Graveside to follow.