Josephine "Joey" Rice

Josephine “Joey” Eleanora Milsted Rice died peacefully at home on Monday, February 22, 2021 at age 73. She was born in 1947 to Joseph W. Milsted and Mathilda Elizabeth “Betty” Bradford Milsted. She and her family have deep roots in the community and have lived in Ocean Springs for over 200 years. Joey received a BA in art from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1970 and had an extensive career as an artist and an art curator. Her work was exhibited throughout the US, as well as locally in New Orleans and Gulf Coast exhibitions. She served as the first curator of the Walter Anderson Museum from 1994-2000, and curator at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center from 2005-2010. Joey was very civic minded and served as a board member at the OS Library, the Dusti Bongé Art Foundation, and was involved in the Ocean Springs Museum of History, located at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center. She was also a member of King’s Daughters and a longtime member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Joey was preceded in death by her parents; and aunts, Eleanor Bradford Lemon, Margaret Bradford Chastain and Vertalee Bradford Vancleave. She is survived by two daughters, Katherine Adele Rice (Louis) Debattista and Eleanor ‘Mimi’ Rice (Victor) Henken; five grandchildren, Luciana Elizabeth Debattista, Cennie Rice Debattista, Louis Kleatu Debattista, Eleanor “Ella” Grace Henken and Camilla Margaret Henken; her brother, William “Bill” Milsted (Rachel); and cousins, nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind many beloved friends who were a huge part of her life and were also her family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to The Lord is My Help food pantry, Black Lives Matter Mississippi, or William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation. The family thankfully acknowledges Sarah and Sandra at Saad Healthcare for their devoted caregiving as well as Father Charles Hawkins and Linda Healy at St. John’s. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 5, 2021 in the Memorial Garden at St. John’s Episcopal Church at 10:00 am. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the Rice family.