Sherman Vallee Rice, Jr., age 71, of 516 Brussels Avenue, Clifton Forge, Virginia died Monday, March 12, 2018 at his residence.

He was born December 14, 1946 in Lynchburg to the late Sherman V. Rice, Sr. and Blanche Reynolds Rice.

He graduated from Clifton Forge High School, attended Augusta Military Academy from 1965-66, and graduated from Phillips Business College in Lynchburg.

He served in the United States Coast Guard for four years. Afterwards, he became a service representative for AT&T, then owner/operator for his Ultimate Carpet Cleaning service.

Sherman was a member of Clifton Forge Baptist Church and was an avid Virginia Tech and Washington Redskins fan.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Hartsook Rice of Clifton Forge; two sons, Sherman Todd Rice and girlfriend, Gracie Lee Stover and Shawn Reynolds Rice and girlfriend, Teresa Dunford, all of West Virginia; two grandchildren, Dakota R. Rice (NCO United States Air Force) and wife, Sarah of Nevarre, FL, and K'lee Margaret Akers and husband, Roger of Beckley, WV; a number of cousins and special friends; and his pets, Spookey the cat and Murphy the dog.

The family would like to thank Mountain Regional Hospice for its excellent care.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, with Reverend J. Glenn Linthicum officiating. Following the service, his body will be cremated.

The family will receive friends on Thursday afternoon from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service at Nicely Funeral Home. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Clifton Forge Baptist Church, P. O. Box 121, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.