Jeff Rice

Jeffrey “Jeff” James Rice passed away on April 14th, 2025. Born on January 13, 1979 in Maryland to James and Patricia Rice, Jeff lived a life full of music, faith, sports, sailing, and dedication to his family.

Jeff started playing piano at a young age and later learned to play the tuba. While attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Jeff had the opportunity to use his musical talents playing tuba as part of the Marching Tar Heels and participating as Student music director at the Newman Catholic Student Center, making many lifelong friendships in the process and learning skills to turn his passion into a career. After a short stint in clinical research post-college during which he met his wife, Jeff was given his first position as a director of music at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Raleigh. Jeff later led the music and liturgical ministries at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (Burlington), St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church (Raleigh), and most recently at Holy Infant Catholic Church in Durham. He also directed the Liturgical Choir as part of NC State’s Catholic student ministry and served as president of the Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM). Jeff built lasting relationships and left his mark throughout the Diocese of Raleigh and at each parish he served.

In addition to music (which included movie scores and classical composers along with sacred music), Jeff loved watching sports, particularly basketball, football, and baseball, and was a devoted fan of UNC athletics, the Baltimore Orioles, and Baltimore Ravens. He was also passionate about sailing, spending time on the water or working on his sailboat. In the past year he also coached his daughter’s softball teams. Most importantly to those who knew him best, Jeff was a wonderful and devoted father, husband, son, and brother.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Allison; daughter Colette; parents James and Patricia Rice; sister Lauren and her husband Shamir and nephews Nicholas and Lucas.

A funeral mass was held on April 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Holy Infant Catholic Church in Durham, 5000 Southpark Drive, Durham, NC 27713.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jeff’s memory to Holy Infant Catholic Church, Durham, NC. https://holyinfantchurch.org/giving

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, is serving the Rice family.