Elizabeth Rice Young

Mrs. Elizabeth Rice Young, affectionately known as Ms. Lit or Granny peacefully transitioned on Friday, November 4, 2022, at the National Healthcare Center in Clinton, SC.  She was born in Laurens County, South Carolina on July 10, 1930, to the Late Elder Lester Rice and Lula Metts Rice. 

Lit was the daughter of a holiness preacher and grew up in the true holiness faith.   She met and married the love of her life, the Late James “Pee Wee” Young in 1948.  Shortly after, she joined Hebron Baptist Church and served faithfully for over 60 years before returning to the holiness faith and joining Chosen Generation Ministries under the leadership of the Late Gwendolyn Kinard.  She was one of the three “Golden Girls” who dressed and wore their fine hats and outfits every Sunday for worship service.

Lit was a supervisor at the South Carolina Department of Disability and Special Needs, Whitten Center, and retired with over 25 years of state service.  She believed in the importance of an education and after raising her children she attended Bell Street High School Adult Education Program and received her high school diploma in 1979.  Elizabeth was a life member of the McCoy, Fuller, Jenkins VFW Post 5932, the Morning Glory Chapter #191 of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Women’s Aide Society.  She touched the lives of many, and her love was shown throughout the community.

She adored her family and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She was the matriarch of the Rice family, and she was our very own “Queen Elizabeth.”  She leaves to cherish her loving memories, three sons, Willie Young, Forestville, MD, Curtis Young, Woodbridge, VA, and James Gilliam, Clinton, SC; one daughter, Shirley Jenkins of Clinton, SC; one son-in-law James “Jimmy” Jenkins of Clinton, SC and one daughter-in-law, Corinne Gilliam, Clinton, SC; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-four great grandchildren and nine great, great grandchildren; two sisters; a devoted sister, Margaret R. Miller and Viola Chambers both of Clinton, SC; five sisters-in-law, Lela Mae Rice, Greenville, SC; Aurelia Peake, and Polly Calhoun, both of Washington, DC; Gwendolyn Long, Temple Hill, MD and Nancy Martin, Clinton, SC; two brothers-in-law, Thomas Long, Temple Hill, MD and Henry Calhoun, Washington, D.C. and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the organization of your choice in the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth R. Young

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