In Memory of Randy Joe Rice

In Memory of Randy Joe Rice 

By Andrea Tadpole-Broussard 

12/2/24

Randy Joe Rice and I met many years ago in AA just as we were both starting our journey in sobriety. Over the years, he was a trusted friend of my family. I spent many evenings at a local diner drinking coffee with him and many others for the "meeting after the meeting". We laughed through the good times and held eachother when we cried through the hard times. 

Randy was very intelligent and a proud English teacher. I used to jokingly call him the grammar police. He was also an awesome musician and artist. Randy was this big, burly man who could look menacing when needed. Yet, he was a mushy marshmallow inside. He had a heart of gold.

Randy exemplified the altruism that AA taught us. Let me give you an example of how he lived the program. When my daughter was 15 she became pregnant. At that time, you had to have passed the 8th grade reading test in order to get your drivers license. She desperately needed hers with a baby coming. Sadly, we found out she had not passed the test she took years before.

While at a meeting after the meeting one night I was explaining this to everyone and asked if anyone knew a good, cheap reading tutor. I heard Randy shout from the other end of the table, "Don't look any further. I'll do it!" Randy came to our home twice a week without fail for several months and taught my daughter to read. He never allowed us to pay him. He said it was the least he could do since God was so good to him. A couple of months before my daughter had her little girl she took the reading test, passed with flying colors and got her drivers license. Today, my beautiful daughter is is in college working toward her Nursing degree.

Had it not been for the unconditional love and time that Randy took to help my daughter, she would not be where she is today. I will be forever grateful to Randy for the gift he gave my family all those years ago. 

It is easy in the world we live in today to grow cold and indifferent. Randy was and still is a reminder to me to stay open and give what I can to those in need. My life was so blessed by him. I know he is rocking out with Lord now. Yet, I am going to miss him deeply.

My heart and prayers are with his wife and family. Rest In Power my dear friend. Give my Dad a hug for me when you see him!

~ Andrea 💜🙏🏼😢