Betty Brewer Rice

Betty Brewer Rice, 91, died peacefully on May 26, 2015, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on April 25, 1924, the daughter of Adrian Louis Brewer, portrait and landscape painter, and Edwina Cook Brewer. She attended Hendrix College and was retired from Poe Travel Agency of Little Rock where she spent 20 years, specializing in cruise sales. A world-wide traveler, Betty led many of the cruises she sold, and was fond of sharing pictures and stories of her travels with her children and grandchildren. Betty was active in various civic organizations, most recently serving on the Art Advisory Board of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies. She also donated her time and talent as a board member of the UALR Friends of the Arts and as a member of the Arkansas Arts Center. A longtime member of Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, Betty was a frequent volunteer in the church office and served as a Circle Chair for Presbyterian Women. Betty was most proud of her membership in the Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools (WEC), founded in 1958 during the desegregation crisis at Little Rock Central High School. An avid bridge player, Betty played twice a week with two foursomes composed of dear friends. She was always upbeat, refusing to give in to adversity, and was a constant support for her family, especially her sons. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her twin brothers, Adrian and Edwin, her soulmate, husband Peyton English Rice Sr., and one grandson, Louis Austin Graham II. She is survived by her three sons, Grimsley Graham Jr. and wife Carol of Rogers, Arkansas; Larry Lain Graham of Little Rock; and Louis Austin Graham and wife Leigh of Little Rock; grandchildren Dr. Jeffrey Graham and wife Dr. Reta of Asheville, North Carolina; Andrew Graham and wife Donna of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Matthew Schexnayder and wife Marce of Buenos Aires; and Laurin Hickman and husband Nick of Oklahoma City; and great grandchildren KeaLea, Finlay, Trenton, Ada, Nicholas and Ellison. Other survivors are bonus children, Dr. Peyton Rice Jr. and wife Brenda of North Little Rock; and Susan Schmidt and husband Dr. Clinton of Fayetteville; and bonus grandchildren Meghan Rice of Chicago; Nathan Schmidt, Peyton Schmidt and Catherine Ann Schmidt all of Fayetteville; Clayton Schmidt, of Washington, D.C. The family would like to especially thank the proficient and compassionate doctors and nurses of the NSICU and MICU units of St. Vincent hospital. Visitation will take place on Friday, May 29, at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock (501) 224-8300 from 6-8 p.m, and a memorial service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church on Saturday at 2 p.m. May 30, 2015. Memorial donations may be made to the Peyton and Betty Brewer Rice Art Conservation Fund, Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, #401, Central Arkansas Library System; Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock; or to the Arkansas Arts Center. www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.