Jeff Stice, age 61 of Smiths Grove, KY, peacefully departed this life on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, TN. Jeff was born on May 30, 1960 at Tyndall Air Force Base in Bay County, FL to the late Jimmy and Evonia Stice. He was married to his help mate and dearest friend, Stacey, on July 15, 2016.
Although Jeff was an accomplished gospel music pianist, he was proud of his heritage and the journey that lead him to much success. He wasn’t arrogant or boastful, but very humble and devout in his faith, to his family and his University of Kentucky Wildcats. He graduated from Edmonson County High School in 1978, and later earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Louisiana Baptist University. As a young Christian, Jeff joined Pleasant Union United Baptist Church, and in most recent years, he became a member of Brownsville Missionary Baptist Church.
God blessed Jeff with the spiritual gift of music and allowed him to share his talent with others throughout the world. He started his career when he very young, playing the bass guitar for a local family quartet, The Tomes Four. He later started playing the piano for his dad’s quartet, The Harvest Time Singers. The word quickly spread about Jeff’s amazing talent, and he was offered a job playing for the renowned group, The Blackwood Brothers. He later joined The Rex Nelon Singers, and he considered himself a member of their musical family until his passing.
Jeff has played for the legendary Oak Ridge Boys and Louise Mandrell. He was a piano instructor for The Charles Novell School of Music at Murray State University, the Steve Hurst School of Music at Lee University and was a Past President for the Southern Gospel Music Association. Jeff was a founding member of two award-winning quartets, Perfect Heart and Triumphant Quartet. During this time, he earned national recognitions which included Southern Gospel Music Guild—Musician of the Year, Southern Gospel Musician of the Year and Favorite Musician from the Singing News, along with numerous Dove and Grammy Award nominations. He was also inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Southern Gospel Piano Roll of Honor and the Edmonson County Singing Convention Hall of Fame.
Of all his accomplishments, Jeff was most proud of his family. He leaves to honor his memory— his wife, Stacey; four children, Natalie Jordan Stice of Brownsville, Nicholas Adam Stice (Michelle) of Seymour, TN, Braxton Nicholas and Mattie Nichole Stearns of Smiths Grove; mother, Evonia Stice of Smiths Grove; granddaughter, Stella Zelina Stice; two sisters, Terri Stice and Kelli Stice Brooks (Scott) all of Smiths Grove; nieces and nephews, Caleb Scott Brooks and Kimberly Alison Lile (Stephen) and their children, Gracie, Jacob and Sophia Lile.
Interment will be in Pleasant Union Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to: Ronald McDonald House, 81 Gadsden St., Charleston, SC 29401.
VISITATION
2—7 PM, Monday, September 20, 2021
Patton Funeral Home Brownsville Chapel
10 AM—1 PM, Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Brownsville Missionary Baptist Church
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
1 PM, Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Brownsville Missionary Baptist Church