Janell Wheeler Rice, 66 of 104 Beech Tree Dr., passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at John F. Keever Solace Center.
Mrs. Rice was born July 12, 1942 in Pompano Beach, FL. She was the only daughter of Lloyd Omega and Thelma Marie Singleton Wheeler.
Janell was a rare ninth generation Floridian. She graduated from FSU in 1963 and married Joseph M. Rice in 1968 in Atlanta, GA. She taught English, dedicated several years to raising her children, and found her passion as a talented potter and jewelry maker in Charlotte, NC and later Black Mountain, NC. Janell loved her family and friends dearly. She had an irreverent sense of humor, loved the arts, loved her cats and passed on these loves to her family.
She is survived by her daughter, Darden Janell Rice of St. Pete, FL and son, Joseph Lloyd Rice of Gaston County, NC; four grandchildren, William Ashley Lambert, Savannah Marie Rice, Darden Lloyd Rice and Gabriel Michael Rice all of Gaston County, NC. She is also survived by her family in the Pompano Beach area: uncle, Grady Singleton; cousins, Cindy Peters, Glenda Clark, Charles Singleton and Jenni Simon.
The family will receive friends Saturday, February 7, 2009 from 12-4 p.m. at The Monte Vista Hotel, 308 W. State St., Black Mountain.

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