Anne Estep Adkins Rice, age 89, passed away on October 2nd, 2024 at Yancey House Assisted Living in Burnsville. Born December 16th, 1934 in the Bald Mountain Community of Yancey County, she was the first-born child of the late Carl and Harriet Estep. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Darius Adkins, who passed away in 1987, as well as five sisters: Christine Swann, Lillie Frost, Patricia Haney, June Hunter and Grace Abbot; and brother, Bobby Estep.
Anne was the oldest of the eight children and would later say she helped raise her younger siblings and felt great responsibility for them. She married her classmate of 12 years, Darius Adkins, in February 1954 during their senior year at Bee Log High School. The young couple feared Darius would be drafted into the Army right after graduation and wanted to spend those few months together. Upon being drafted, Anne accompanied Darius to various posts when allowed. During other times, she lived with her in-laws, Reuben and Fola Adkins, and sister-in-law, Nell Adkins (Johnson) in the Ramseytown Community of Yancey County and started a long career at Glen Raven Mills. Anne was eager to have a home of her own with Darius and eventually they built a home on the banks of the Cane River. They were anxious to start a family but, after ten childless years, it was Anne who suggested they look into adoption. In July 1964, they welcomed a son, Joseph Darius (Joey), and then a daughter, Ann Nicole (Nikki) in 1966.
Anne and Darius raised their children in the love and teaching of the Lord and were active in their local church, Millers Chapel. Anne became a fulltime mother, homemaker, and Sunday School Teacher, then returned to Glen Raven in 1978, later retiring in 1995 as the first female cloth room supervisor.
Anne enjoyed working and U.S. travel, and became a grandmother during those widowed years to her dearly loved grandsons, Joseph and Lance Adkins, with whom she looked forward to summer visits. Anne met and married Arnold Rice in 1994 and left Yancey County, moving to Weaverville. In their retirement, they enjoyed gardening, travel, and a new granddaughter, Anna, in 1997. Anne would later welcome two additional grandchildren, Kyle and Kaylee Adkins of Georgia.
Family and friends who knew and loved Anne would describe her as a determined, strong-willed, independent woman who would stop at nothing to care for those she loved and for what she believed in.
Left to cherish Anne’s memory are her husband of 30 years, Arnold; son, Joey Adkins and wife, Hiwot, of Douglasville, Georgia; a daughter, Nikki McKinney and husband, Alan, of Green Mountain; a stepdaughter, Diane Beck of Weaverville; sister, Kate Wilson of Burnsville; brother, Charles Estep of Spartanburg, SC; five grandchildren: Joseph (Jessica) Adkins, Lance (Jessica) Adkins of Dallas, Georgia, Anna McKinney Smith (Cade) of Greenville, TN, and Kyle and Kaylee Adkins of Douglasville, Georgia; great-grandchildren: Jessa and Jett Adkins, Noah Adkins, and Gracie, Kenzie and Leeland Walker, all of Dallas, Georgia. Numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family also survive.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 in the chapel of Yancey Funeral Services. Speaker Dan Edwards will officiate.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the employees of Yancey House who lovingly cared for Anne for 18 months. Their expertise and kindness made Anne’s last months enjoyable and meaningful. Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Western Carolina Chapter, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209. To send online condolences, please visit our website at www.yanceyfuneralservice.com.
