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Rice's Scholarship Benefits Music Majors

David and Martha Bailey Rice’s philanthropy continues to keep classical music alive through the Martha Margaret Bailey Rice Music Scholarship Fund at Mississippi University for Women. The scholarship was initially awarded in the fall 2007.

The scholarship benefits a junior or senior music major who, according to the Rices, will hopefully graduate more students in classical music.

In 1997, the Rices established a charitable remainder trust, a plan that provides income for life. In 2006, David made the decision to give up the income and terminate the trust early. “I wanted Martha to see students benefit from the gift during our lifetime,” he says. “I knew what I wanted to do. I didn’t tell Martha.” David terminated their charitable remainder trust and used the proceeds from the trust to establish the Martha Margaret Bailey Rice Music Scholarship Fund to honor his wife, a retired music educator.

The Rices were excited about being able to assist students financially.  "This is something that you can do that keeps on lasting,” he said.

Martha, class of 1948, had a double major in music. “(MSCW) taught me everything I knew,” she said. Martha’s mother, Keety Herring, also attended MUW.

After graduating, Martha went on to teach in Charleston and share her talents, including choral music, voice, organ and piano.

“I enjoyed high school choral music and the little children,” Martha said. “You never learn it all, and you never get bored. It’s a great thing.”

She also shared her musical gifts while in Saudi Arabia for almost three years during David’s service to the Corps of Engineers.

David graduated from Mississippi State University, earning a degree in industrial engineering. He worked more than 31 years as a civilian employee for the Department of Defense.

The Rices reside in Tanner, Ala. They have one son, David Rice III, a dentist who lives and practices in Laurel, Miss., and two daughters, Beth Rice, an education administrator who lives and works in Sacramento, Calif., and Amy Rice Henry, a chemical engineer who resides in Mobile, Ala. David and Martha have five grandchildren.