LaWanda Joy Cline Rice

LaWanda J. Cline Rice, 85, of Sedalia, passed away Friday, September 6, 2024 at her home.

She was born June 25, 1939, in Sedalia, a daughter of Robert Bell Cline and Nina Cleo Harker. On July 24, 1970, she was united in marriage to John R. Rice.

LaWanda attended Lincoln Hubbard High School and became an assistant educator there, as well as Washington Elementary School, and Buckner Head start, where she retired.

She is preceded in death by her husband, John R. Rice; father Robert Bell Cline; her mother Nina Cleo Harker; son Rodney D. “Petey” Cline, Sr.; brothers Julius Harris, Daniel Harker, Richard Lee Cline, Floyd Heath, Michael Heath, Richard Heath, and Thomas Heath. Three sisters, Lakewell B. Lucas, Shirley Floyd, and Deborah Heath; and granddaughter, Ania B. Frayser.

She leaves to cherish her memories with her sons, Darren Cline (Colleen), Terrance Cline (Donna), Dennis Cline (Sandra) all of Sedalia, and Patrick Curd, Long Beach, CA; her daughters, Regina Lawson, DaLissa Butler (Rodney), Dionne Rice, and Tonya Jackson (James) all of Sedalia, and daughter-in-law Ruby Cline (Petey) of Fort Scott, KS; her brothers, Robert Cline Heath (Gloria), Issac Cline Heath (Denise), and Calvin Heath (Marlene) all of Chicago, IL; and two sisters, Lorraine White (Ronald) and Faith Heath, of Chicago; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends; and very special loves of her life, Richard "Pennyman" Curd, Scharlett Cline, Larry & Debbie Newbill, Michael Lawson, the Hawkins family and the Pummill family, all of Sedalia, and Martin Douglas Briscoe, of Texas.

Funeral service will be 11:00 am Friday, September 13, 2024 at First Baptist Church with Bishop Paul Jones officiating. 

Attendants will be Keith Hawkins, Rickey Hawkins, Eric Hawkins, Chris Balance, Terrence Cline, II, David M. Spruell, II, Ryan Cline, Derrick Butler, Rodney D. Cline, Jr, Alexander Cline, Keyaire Marshall, Jordan Lawson and Jayden Lawson.

Honorary attendants will be Granddaughters, Great Granddaughters, Grandsons, and Great Grandsons.

There will be no visitation.

Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in care of Heckart Funeral Home.