Dwight Anthony "Tony" Rice Jr.

Dwight Anthony Rice, Jr. "Tony", 48, passed away on January 24, 2026. Services will be Saturday, February 7, 2023 beginning with visitation at 10 am and funeral service to follow at 12 noon at Southern Star Baptist Church, 2308 Algonquin Parkway. Interment will be in Green Meadows Cemetery.

Dwight Anthony (Tony) Rice Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 1, 1978, to Dwight Anthony Rice Sr. and Patricia Bishop (Rice) Hammond. He was blessed at Greater Faith Baptist Church by Rev. Marcus McCollum. He later attended St. Stephen's Baptist Church. Tony attended Central High School, where he made many friends. He also graduated from ITT Tech. He was great at math! He worked for Zoeller and later for Nedcom in Shelbyville, Kentucky.

Family and friends were a very important part of Tony's life. He grew up in the Phoenix Hill neighborhood, where he made many lifelong friends. He and his cousins really loved spending time together at Grandma Rice's house. Tony really thought of himself as a grill-master and loved family gatherings. He was an avid sports fan, and he loved the UofL Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. If he could, he would give you the shirt off his back. He was so generous; when it came to being a father, his kids were his number one priority. Tony's smile was always present, even when life challenges were overwhelming.

He met and married his wife, Sharra Tavis, on January 30, 2009. They shared a very special bond.Together, they shared 6 children, and he loved them all equally. Tony had 3 children, and Sharra has 3 children. Tony spent a lot of heart and intention into making sure his blended family truly worked. He showed up and made an effort to ensure everyone felt included and supported.

Tony was preceded in death by his grandparents, John R. Rice Sr. and Ida Mae Rice; his stepmother, Rebecca Rankins; one uncle, John R. Rice Jr.; one great-aunt, Catherine Jewell Johnson; two aunts, Veranda G. Rice and Elease Rice-Bradford; one brother/cousin/best friend, Ervin D. Rice Jr. (Winky); and his father-in-law, Ronzel Tavis.

He is survived by his wife, Sharra T. Rice; two daughters, Ronisha Henderson-Rice and Lia Noelle Rice; one son, Antonio Dwight Rice; two stepsons, Jarrel Tavis and Daletarius Martin; and one stepdaughter, Te'Keisha Burton. He is also survived by his father, Dwight Anthony Rice Sr.; his mother, Patricia Hammond; his stepfather, Geral Hammond (Coco); and his mother- and father-in-law, Marcia Moore (Ben) of Richmond, Kentucky. He leaves behind one brother, Alonzo Rice; one sister, Re'Anna Rice; two stepsisters, Ayonna Hammond and Christy Hammond; one granddaughter, Jaisley Noelle Rice; and ten step-grandchildren. Additional survivors include three uncles, Ervin D. Rice Sr. (Sabrina), Maurice L. Rice, and June Bradford; three aunts, Sabrina R. Rice, Myra M. Rice, and Vicky Lynn Bishop; and his grandmother, Louisve Covington. He leaves behind a host of cousins, relatives, and friends.