Arties Rice was born October 12, 1948 to Eula Mae Rice Crabtree in Texarkana, Arkansas. He accepted Christ at an early age while attending Eleventh Street Baptist Church. As an adult he became a faithful member of Hamilton Memorial A.M.E. Church.

He attended Orr Elementary, and WT Daniels Elementary Schools and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1966. He graduated from Paul Quinn College with a BA degree in history and minor in sociology. While attending Paul Quinn he was a member of the Royal Order of Esquires. Arties was an active alumnus of the Booker T. Washington class of 1966. He received his Master's of Science degree from East Texas State University (Texas A & M University Texarkana).

Arties served 4 years in the US Army. He ultimately became a Case Manager and EEOC Counselor at FCI Texarkana.

He married the love of his life, Jo Ann Rice (Lester), in 1970. Arties and Jo Ann celebrated 50 years of marriage on March 30, 2020. They were blessed with one daughter, Josette Monique Rice.

Arties was preceded in death by his mother, Eula Mae Rice and brother Rufus Crabtree. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Jo Ann Rice; daughter, Josette Rice; and three brothers, Ralph Crabtree (Anita); Samuel Rice (Esther); and Clarence Crabtree; as well as nieces and nephews.