Mattie Bouyer Rice Obituary (1932 – 2021) – Toledo, OH

(News post)
Mark Zaborney
Blade author

Mattie Mae Bouyer Rice, a Toledo teacher honored for her work as a professional educator and helping introduce Black History into the classroom, died Monday at Piedmont Henry Hospital in Stockbridge, Georgia. She was 89 years old.

She is sick and has not recovered from surgery earlier this summer, said her daughter Sherry Thompson, with whom she has lived in Georgia since June 2020. Ms. Rice lived long in the Secor Gardens neighborhood of South Toledo before moving to Genesis Village on Reynolds Road.

Ms. Rice taught at the former Macomber-Whitney Vocational Technical High School. She focused on home economics, her college major – and often brought home samples of her students’ cooking projects. She also helped students find jobs.

When friends, colleagues and former students offered their condolences, “I came to find out that people saw things in my mother. She cared so much for people, especially children,” her daughter said. “She was always there to ensure that everyone received further training, whether professional or technical or technical. Especially as a black person, you have to further educate yourself in order to get ahead in life.”

Ms. Rice was named Professional Teacher of the Year during her tenure, relatives said. Her college minor was Social Science, and she helped in efforts to bring black history into the classroom.

“That was a passion for her. She wanted to bring that passion into the school system,” said her daughter. “That should be in schools. It was important for them that people knew.”

She calmed the students down, and they kept in touch after they were scattered across the country.

“Her students knew them all. No matter what color or color they were, they were with us the whole time,” said her daughter.

Writing became a favorite occupation. She wrote and directed plays for the Church, specifically a 1980 production of her 90-minute Black History, themed Through It All, staged at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, where she was a long-time member and announcer.

“She loved doing plays. She loved directing weddings. She was a great speaker,” said her daughter.

Mrs. Rice kept a diary. She sent out a Christmas newsletter full of family updates and wrote a report on the event after each family get-together.

“She wrote cards to everyone. Didn’t miss birthdays,” said her daughter. “She kept us up to date. My mother saw something good in everyone. My mother was a firm believer in Christ, and she always brought that with her. People were drawn to her.”

She was born on May 13, 1932 in Atmore, Ala., The first child of Annie Lee Gayle and Wiley Richard Gayle and moved with their first husband to Toledo, where he had a family.

She worked as a nutritionist at the Toledo Hospital before continuing her studies at the University of Toledo to teach, including Masters in Vocational Education.

She was previously married to the late Luther Bouyer. Her second husband, Julius Rice, died in the early 1980s.

Her daughters Sherry Thompson and Wanda Thomas survived; Sons, Victor and Shawn Bouyer; Stepdaughter Lisa Rice; Sisters, Annie Wilson and Lenora Barry; Brothers Charlie Lee Gayle and Christopher Gayle; nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

The service begins on Monday at 11 a.m. at the United Missionary Baptist Church, where the visitation begins at 10 a.m. Preparations are being made by the Dale-Riggs Funeral Home.

The family suggests paying homage to the United Missionary Baptist Church scholarship fund, of which they were a member.

This is a message from Mark Zaborney. He can be reached at [email protected].

Published by The Blade on September 11, 2021.