Deborah Rice

Deborah Nan Rice, 72 a resident of Spring City, TN passed away on Sunday morning, September 10, 2023, surrounded by her family in an Athens, TN healthcare facility. She was born in Sparta, TN on April 24, 1951, a daughter of Clifford McCormick and Evelyn Cunningham. Deborah worked for decades in management from the service department to restaurants, she attended vocational school for computer technology and later became a state employee. She was a hard worker, opinionated, and driven. In Deborah's spare time she enjoyed charity work of all kinds such as helping hands, food drives, Relay for Life and Starlight to name a few. She loved reading horror novels or watching scary movies, most often those by Steven King. Deborah adored Elvis Presley. Her passion in life was spending time with her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren cooking and baking for them. This is proven by a direct quote from her - "I love all my children, grandchildren, & great-grandchildren very much and I will be watching over them."

In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by one brother Nelson McCormick and one granddaughter Essence Rice.

Deborah leaves behind to cherish her memory five children Symanatha Milana (Peter), Kevin Cunningham, Angela Clemensen (Phil), Shannon Ladd (Brandon) and Jason Rice (Lisa), thirteen grandchildren Caleb Wilson, Curtis Cunningham, Hayley Baldwin, Shelby Riggs, Makayla Natero, Ethan Cunningham, Ariel Warren, Austin Clemensen, Kassidy Cunningham, Tattum Harrison, Evelynn Ladd, Noah Ladd, and Lydia Rice, twelve great-grandchildren, three siblings, Elizabeth Reed, James McCormick and Michael McCormick, numerous other extended family members and a host of special friends.

A celebration of her life is planned for Sunday, September 24, 2023, at 2:00 PM at the Milana Family Residence located at 1098 Sable Road in Spring City, TN 37381.

You are encouraged to share a memory of Deborah and/or your personal condolences with her family by visiting her memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Athens is honored to assist her family with these arrangements.