Anders-Rice Funeral Home & Cremation Center

We were established July 1st, 1937 on Haywood Road in West Asheville. Our Founding Fathers were J.B. Burgin Anders, C.J. "Curtis" Rice and the Rev. W.S. "Scott" Vehaun, all of whom provided the foundation, professionalism and reputation we are proud of today. We have continued our family owned tradition for more than 60 years by offering to our community and the families of Western North Carolina a complete personalized service in all areas of burial and cremation choices.

A second generation Funeral Director, J.T. served as President and Treasurer for Anders-Rice Funeral Home and was a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with over 60 years experience. He was an honorary member of the West Asheville Kiwanis Club and a former member of Biltmore Kiwanis Club, of which he served as President of both and was a former Lieutenant Governor of District 1 of Kiwanis of Western North Carolina.

Professionally, he was a former District Director and a member of the North Carolina Funeral Directors Association, member of the National Funeral Directors Association, and a member of the Flying Funeral Directors of America. In our community, J.T. served on the Asheville Civil Service Board, Buncombe County Sheriff's Advisory Committee, past Chairman of the Asheville Regional Airport Authority, Mars Hill College Board of Advisors and Trustees, and charter President of the Western Carolina Pilots Association.

J.T. was a member of the Vance Masonic Lodge, member of the Oasis Shriners Temple, and a member of Newbridge Baptist Church. Doris is a native and lifelong resident of Buncombe County, and was married in 1948 to J.T. Rice. They have one son, Tommy, who serves as a Director with our firm. She is the Secretary of Anders-Rice Funeral Home and assists in many duties, including driving the second family car as needed, attending children of family members during funeral services, filing death certificates, and overseeing all of the social activities for our staff and their families.

Doris is a member of West Asheville Baptist Church, Order of the Eastern Star, and the Western North Carolina Aeronautical Association. She serves as a volunteer for many organizations, including The March of Dimes, American Heart Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the American Cancer Society. A third generation Funeral Director, he started in our Funeral Profession at the age of 10.

Tommy is our Vice President and General Manager and is the son of James T. (J.T.) Rice, Sr. and Doris Miller Rice. He has been a licensed Funeral Director since 1976, a licensed Embalmer since 1979 and holds his Life Insurance license currently serving as District Manager for Investors Heritage Life Insurance Company through our pre-need department.

Tommy is an active member of the Asheville-West Rotary Club where he has served as President and on numerous committees and is a member of the Paul Harris Society. He is involved in many community services and helps serve as a volunteer for many of the non-profit associations. She was employed with Anders-Rice Funeral Home for over 37 years where she served as Secretary and Office Manager.

Lucille, as a Licensed Cosmetologist assisted hundreds of our families with their loved one's hair care and cosmetics. Lucille is a member of Grace Baptist Church in West Asheville and enjoys cooking and outdoor activities. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force and was discharged as a Staff Sergeant. After returning home, he attended Western Carolina University and graduated in 1976 with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration.

John has lived in Candler for the past 40 years and is a member and ordained Deacon of Pole Creek Baptist Church. Bryan was born and raised in Mitchell County and is a 1996 graduate of Mitchell High School. He then attended Mayland Community College where he obtained an A.A.S. degree in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting.

In 2002, he graduated with honors from Fayetteville Technical Community College with an A.A.S. degree in Funeral Service. Bryan and his family currently reside in Candler. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, motor sports, playing bluegrass, country and gospel music, and researching both local and funeral service history.

Daryl joined the staff of Anders-Rice in February, 2004 as a Funeral Service Licensee with over 23 years experience. Margaret is our staff organist, having played for hundreds of services over the years. Along with her love and support for our local families through her message in music, she enjoys collecting lighthouses and photography.

Alex was born and raised in the Elk Park Community of Avery County. He graduated from Avery High School in 1983 and is a graduate of Lees-McRae College with an A.A.S. Degree in Business Administration. He and his wife, the former Kim Wells, were married May 7, 1988 and they have one daughter, Brittany. Alex lives in the Leicester Community and along with his family, attends Corinth Baptist Church.

Steve joined our staff in February 2013 as a full-time Funeral Service Associate, and is currently enrolled in Fayetteville Technical Community College in the Funeral Director's Diploma Program. Steve is a member of the First Baptist Church of Swannanoa, and was ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister (2008) and as a Deacon (2012), as well as a member of the Swannanoa Lion's Club.

His hobbies include spending time with his family, old cars, preaching, teaching, and performing as a Baritone and Soloist with the "FourEver His" Quartet. As the child of a military family, Adam lived on several Army bases during his childhood in Hawaii, Germany, and Alabama. He attended and graduated from Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Alabama, where he met his wife, the former Lesley Edwards.

Together they have one daughter, Fern Elisabeth. Adam has been in the profession of funeral service since 2001 and holds funeral service licenses in North Carolina and Alabama. He is a graduate of the Funeral Service Education department at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama. He also holds the distinction of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) being a graduate and member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

Adam joined the staff at Anders-Rice Funeral Home and Cremation Center in July 2013. Adam is a member and officer of Hominy Lodge #491 AF&AM of Candler, as well as a member of Oconee Lodge #427 AF&AM of Bryson City. He is also a member of the Valley of Asheville Scottish Rite, Oasis Shriners of Charlotte, and The Land of Sky Shrine Club of Swannanoa.

Adam and his family are members of the First Baptist Church of Bryson City. Our staff is very active in the community through Rotary, Kiwanis & other Civic Organizations, providing scholarships to local schools for students pursuing a college education, assisting with Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets to needy families in our area, working with local churches in fund raising and social events, non-profit organizations such as the Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Hospice, etc.

We take pride, as well, in supporting our local Law Enforcement Agencies, Fire Departments and Emergency Management Systems.