Lillian Sikes Rice

Lillian Henson Sikes-Rice of Mobile, Alabama passed away quietly in the home of her granddaughter on Tuesday morning January 12, 2016. She was 97-years old.
Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, Winslow and Lillian Pearl Henson; her first husband, Joseph Asa Sikes; her second husband, Ted R. Rice; her daughter, Memorie Jo Sikes-Casey; her son, John Asa Sikes; and her brothers, Howard A. Henson, Victor W. Henson, and Earl M. Henson. She is survived by her grandchildren, Sean Casey, Gail Sikes Maxey (James), Jeff Sikes (Christy) and Cody Sikes, as well as numerous great grandchildren, a great-great grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Lillian was born on May 5, 1918 in Ft. Deposit, Alabama. The only daughter of a Baptist Minister, and youngest of four siblings, Lillian spent the majority of her childhood in Louisville, Alabama, and graduated from Louisville High School in 1936. She attended college at Troy State University where she was one of the first, if not the first, drum players for the college, and where she earned her degree in elementary education in 1939. Later, she married Joseph Asa Sikes, and gave birth to their daughter, Memorie Jo Sikes in 1941. After Joseph’s return from service in WWII, she gave birth to John Asa Sikes in 1946. She remained married to Joseph until his death in 1972.
A devout Christian and faithful member of the church throughout her life, Lillian lived in many places including St. Louis, Miami, St. Petersburg, Louisville, Luverne, Dothan, Montgomery, Mobile, and Daphne. It was in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she served as an educator for 30-years until her retirement in 1979. Lillian married Ted Rice in 1980, and then moved back to Luverne, where she and Ted were faithful members of the church and the community. Following Ted’s passing in the early 80s, and her daughter’s passing in 1985, Lillian moved to Dothan, where she served as a devoted child care giver and loving friend to Drs. John and Marie Stone and their children, Daniel and Caitlin Stone. In 2008, after the passing of her son, John Asa Sikes, she moved to Luverne and later to Montgomery. In 2014, she moved to Mobile to be closer to her granddaughter, Gail Sikes-Maxey, who cared for her until her passing.
Lillian was the matriarch of the Sikes family and will always be remembered for her unyielding devotion, generosity, and compassion for her Christian faith and her family. During her life, she travelled the country and the world on leisure and church trips. Her most memorable and spiritually emboldening trips were to Jerusalem, Israel. Lillian was an accomplished writer, and, at the age of 92-years, she wrote and published a novel. Her favorite book was the Bible, and her favorite quotation was “I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.”
Graveside services will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, January 16, 2016 in Luverne Emmaus Cemetery with Rev. Tim Callaway officiating and Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing. Active pallbearers are Cody Sikes, Jeff Sikes, James Maxey, Trevor Maxey, Hayden Maxey, and Sean Casey. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30pm.