Patricia "Pat" Atkins Rice

WEAVERVILLE – Patricia “Pat” Atkins Rice, age 71, of Weaverville went to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at Mission Hospital.

Pat was born April 5, 1954, in Buncombe County where she lived her entire life. She graduated from Western Carolina University and taught elementary school for 32 years then subbed for an additional 8 years. She taught at Barnardsville, North Buncombe, and North Windy Ridge schools during her tenure. She loved her grandkids and grand dog, and her faith was the most important thing to her. Pat was a big planner and an avid reader. She loved to go to her grandchildren’s games and competitions. She was involved in her Life Group with the Ladies at Brookstone Church where she was a member.

Pat was the daughter of the late Luther James and Juanita Worley Atkins and was also preceded in death by her sister, Darinda Hensley.

Surviving is her daughter, Carissa Brooke Rice; son, Joshua Heath Rice and wife Stacie; sister, Wanda Cole and husband Randy, Kathy Maqsood and husband Tahir, and Lavonne Hartwell; brothers, Larry Atkins and wife Brenda, and James Atkins; grandchildren, Julia and Josiah Rice; grand dog, Jadie; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Friday, November 7, 2025, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville with Pastor Ron Dodson officiating. Burial will follow in Clark’s Chapel Cemetery, 25 Clark’s Chapel Road, Weaverville.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m., Friday, November 7, 2025, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving the Rice family. Condolences may be offered to the family under her obituary at www.westfamilyfuneralservices.com.