The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-05-31
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y. VI. hIUc, w. w. Johnson, Comp
INTO WORLD OF SHADOWS
In His Death Union Loses
Good Citizen.
He Was Instrumental in the
Material and Moral Uplift
of Union and a Worker
for His Masters
Cause.

Mr.. S. M. Rice, E. u, one of Un-
ions best men, passed into the World
of Shadows Monday afternoon at 80
o'clock and was buried the following
afternoon from Grace Methodist
church, Rev. Mr.. Daniels, his pastor,
and Rev. L. L. Wagnon conducting
the burial services. The interment
was in Grace Methodist church ceme-
terry. The news Of Mr.. Rice's death
will be heard with sorrow by q wide
circle of friends. He was a man who
was held in the highest esteem and his
truly worthy character invited that
esteem.
Mr.. Rice was a merchant in this
city for about twenty-six years and
was liberal both with his money, his
time and his energy in doing all that
he could for the material and moral
uplift Of Union, being especially inter-
ested in temperance and Sunday
School work and having served for a
long period as president of the county
Sunday School Association as we'll as
being faithful superintendent of
Grace Methodist Sunday School, of
which church he was steward for
many years.
1t was at Waterloo in Laurens
county about fifty years ago that Mr..
Rice was born, his father being the
late Col. VIM. G. Rice. In 1876 Mr..
Rice held a position with Rice &
Coleman, the railroad contractors who
graded the road between Asheville
and Spartanburg, coming to this city
in the early sos, and taking a posi-
tion as salesman with the late DR.. B.
F. Rawls, whose business he pur-
chased when DR.. Rawls moved to
Asheville. There being three people
by the name of S. M. Rice in Union
and this Mr.. Rice doing business in.
East Union, the letters E. U. were
placed after his name.
About twenty-four years ago Mr..
Rice and Miss Evelina Sarratt were
married and of this union a large
family have been born, those surviv-
ing being Mrs. Beverly c. Lewis, Jr.,
of Richmond, Va, R. Coleman Rice,
student of Wofford College, Oliver,
VIM. Anthony, Sidney Clough and Ag-
nes, the latter being five years of
age. The eldest son, Paul Sarratt
Rice, died about thirteen years ago.
Besides being an active member Of
the Methodist church, which he joined
in early childhood, Mr.. Rice was
member of the Woodmen of the
World and Mason, and his influence
for good is felt in all walks of life for
he was one that could be depended
upon at all times to be on the side of
that which is right. He will be great
ly missed by the county at large.
Among those who survive him in
addition to his wife and children al
ready named are his brothers, Mr.. C.
H. Rice, of Sedalia, Mr.. w. G. Rice,
of Coroaca, Rev. A. @. Rice of Noun
tain Inn, Mrs Brooks Swygert of Lau-
rens, Mrs. R. L. Stewart of Coronaca
and Mrs. r. S. Nichols of Spartan
burg.
1t is but fitting, in this brief sketch
Of a good mans life to take look
at him in the final hours of his pass
ing. During the last few days off his
earthly pilgrimage his mind constant
ly reverted to others. 1t was Of 9TH
ers, not himself, that he thought. The
day before his death he called his
children to his bedside and spoke COM
fortingly to them. He said during the
last hours: 81 want God to bless
everybody, both white and black. My
message to relatives and friends ev-
erywhere, is: "Get right with God"
His pastor said of him, as his body
was awaiting burial: "He was good
man; more than that I could not say,
for that is the best that could be
said"
During his last illness he was now
and again repeating the words: GAIL
hail the power of Jesus namew His
mind seemed to be more and more
seeking to rest in the Great Teacher
that One to whom he had for many
years been presenting the little chill
dren. God rest his weary body! His
spirit has found the great, the blessed
rest. I'D.