The congregation of Aldie United Methodist Church on March 22 gathered to honor one of its members, Mrs. Stanley "Pinky" Rice, known to hundreds of friends and neighbors as Miss Pinky. She has been and will continue to be, one of the community's and the church's foremost authorities, volunteers and supporting members. She and her husband of 54 years, Stanley Rice, live around the corner from the village and church in a country home they lovingly remodeled many years ago. Before, during and after most of the activities in Aldie, the couple is often seen contributing, working, helping or doing whatever needs to be done, not only for their church, but for their community.

Aldie United Methodist Church has greatly benefited from Miss Pinky's many talents. She has been the church's organist and music director for 56 years, as well as social coordinator whose duties include managing the kitchen, cooking and serving meals for a multitude of occasions through the years. Hers is the outstanding voice heard as she sings the hymns along with the congregation while playing the organ every Sunday. She served in a number of support positions. She has been Sunday school teacher, Bible school worker, treasurer, house keeper and anything the church needed to have done.

Amazingly, Miss Pinky is self-taught for almost everything she does – playing the organ, singing, cooking, catering, sewing, quilting, landscaping and crafting. However, being self-taught has not lessened the level of perfection in whatever she does; her work is top of the line. One of her exquisite wedding cakes was featured in the February edition of Virginia Living. Her catering provides entrees most chefs would envy. The food looks pretty and it tastes as good as it looks. Her handmade fashions are heirloom quality. She has taught many piano students who are now happy they had her for a teacher. One special thing of note – she designed and made a turban to donate to women who lost their hair due to medical treatments. A turban kit was designed and shared with other churches, and now the kits and patterns are copied in churches and organizations in many different places.

When asked about how she learned to do all these many things so well, Miss Pinky modestly credits her mother and her aunts, who, she says, could do all these things well and were hard-working, innovative and resourceful people. Her mother was of the Carter family, a name well-known in the area. Her family's lives were centered in their churches, just as the Rices' lives are. Her family stories reflect her family's contribution and devotion to their communities, just as the Rices' lives do.

During the church service, Pastor Robert Schoeman spoke of Miss Pinky's devotion and shining example. A church member and friend, Barbara Bull, presented her with a certificate of appreciation from the church. Another member and one of her best friends, Mary Lee, spoke to the congregation about Miss Pinky's years of service, and presented her with a letter of appreciation from the Winchester District Superintendent of the United Methodist Churches.

"Pinky and I have worked together for many years on different programs and projects; she is a wonderful friend – one in a million," Mary Lee said.

The church service was followed by a fellowship lunch and celebration in her honor.