July 13, 1924 – April 28, 2014

NATCHEZ — Services for Irene “Sister” Rice Baldwin, 89, of Natchez, who died Monday, April 28, 2014, at her residence, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Hope Vision Center with the Rev. Jerry Baldwin officiating.

Visitation will be from noon to 5 p.m. today at Robert D. Mackel and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with family hours from 6 to 9 p.m. at King Solomon Baptist Church and from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Mrs. Baldwin was born July 13, 1924, in Natchez, the daughter of Floyd Rice Jr. and Annie Smith Rice.

She accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age from Milford Baptist Church. She attended Milford School and graduated with honors as the valedictorian of her class.

She was married to the Rev. Shead Baldwin Sr. Born to this union were eight children. The Rev. and Mrs. Baldwin were advocates of education and made sure all of their children received their diplomas and later enrolled in a college of their choice.

She later studied and received her certification in social work, through programs provided by the State Department of Health and Human Services.

Her work history includes the Belmont Hotel and social work through the Department of Human Services in Natchez.

Mrs. Baldwin moved her membership from Milford Baptist Church to King Solomon in the city of Natchez, where she served on the usher board, deaconess board, JMA’s ministy, the Missionary Society and sponsored the Red Circle and the YWA for many years. Each year, she worked and raised money to take the youth on trips throughout the country. She believed that all children should be given an opportunity to excel in life, which was the driving force that caused her to expose them to as many positive events and settings as possible.

Mrs. Baldwin stood by her husband during his 46 years as a pastor.

She was right by his side during the Civil Rights Movement of the late 1950s and 1960s.

She and her children endured harrasment, verbal and sometimes physical abuse during his back-to-back terms as president of the NAACP during the 1960s. The entire family was totally devestated when two of her husband’s churches were destroyed by fire during the movement.

Mrs. Baldwin was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; 11 brothers, Lee Oscar Rice, the Rev. Floyd Rice III, George Woods Jr., Robert Woods, Monroe Woods, Roy Reese Rice, Mack Roy Rice, Clarence Pullins, the Rev. Horace Pullins, Willie Pullins and Freddie Pullins; three sisters, Nellie Rice Yancy, Ora Lee Batiste and Annie Mae Pettis; step mother, Pearline Rice; one son-in-law, Prince Borten; and one daughter-in-law, Patricia Lewis Baldwin.

Survivors include two sons, Ret. Lieutenant and field officer III Roosevelt “Johnny” Baldwin and wife, the late Patricia, of Natchez and Dr. Jerry Baldwin and wife, Juliet, of Ruston, La.; one adopted son, James Baldwin and wife, Dora, of Leavenworth, Kan.; five daughters, Eloise Harris and husband, Dave, of Indianola, Dr. Odessa Borten and husband, the late Prince, of Houston, Dr. Betty Cade and husband, Robert, of Natchez, Martha Jean Fairley and husband, Leonard, of Gautier and Dr. Annie Bass and husband, B.J., of Dallas; five Godchildren, Clarence Hayes, Jesse and Michael Hunt, all of Natchez, Johnny Lee Rice of Vidalia and Anthony Dunbar of Charlotte, N.C.; 20 grandchildren, Deidre Robb and husband, Charles, Thomansina Bailey, Shawn Davis and wife, Brandy, Bill Borten and wife, Sandra, Derrick Davis Sr. and wife, Grace, Kimberly Lewis and husband, Johnny, Anthony Dunbar and wife, Stacey, Byron Baldwin, Malasha Baldwin, Rhonda Lewis, Rodrick Lewis, Nikita Borten, Robbie Furdge and husband, Maurice, Kia Richardson and wife, Shelton, Sherri Borten, Roslyn Baldwin, Billy Bass Jr., Eloise Fairley, Benjamin Bass and wife, Cassey and Justin Bass; 24 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one aunt, Marie Rice; four brothers, Percy Rice and wife, Jessie, Roosevelt Woods and wife, Freddie Mae, all of Natchez, Ernest Johnson and wife, Ollie, and Flemmon Pullins and wife, Susie, of Chicago; six sisters, Rosie Lee Woods, Eugenia Lewis, Velma McCray and husband, Wilbert, and Dora Stanton of Natchez; Edna Harper of Kenner, Florida Anthony and husband, Randolph, of LaPlace; and a number of relative and friends.