Meet Jack Rice—90 years young and as spunky as they come.
Jack is a farmer through and through. He met his beloved wife, Reva Dean, more than 60 years ago at a Halloween Carnival at Parrotsville School. They’ve now been married 65 years and still live on the very farm Jack bought back in 1958 for just $9,500—a place rooted deeply in love, hard work, and memories.
When I first planned this photo shoot, my hope was to capture Jack and Reva Dean together on the farm they built their life on. Sadly, her health had been declining quickly, and we weren’t able to bring her outside. Still, I was able to photograph them together inside their home, wrapped in one of the many quilts Reva Dean has lovingly made over her lifetime. One of those quilts was once sold for $8,000 at her church’s Lord’s Acre Sale—then later gifted back to her. Jack beamed with pride every time he spoke about it.
I fell head over heels for this precious man. Jack is hilarious, charming, and a bit of a flirt. For years, he’s been collecting what he calls “field diamonds” from his farm—rocks he treasures and keeps tucked into his pockets. He hands them out to friends, neighbors, ladies at church, and even waitresses. If you’ve ever received one of Jack’s gems, consider yourself truly blessed. I spent the day riding around his land on a Kubota, exploring fields and hills alongside Jack and his faithful dog, Lassie. They go everywhere together. Some of my favorite photos are of the two of them silhouetted against the rolling hills at sunset—those sunsets were absolutely breathtaking.
I truly believe the Lord’s timing was at work with this shoot. Just one week later, Reva Dean was placed on hospice care. My heart aches for the changes Jack is facing. I’ve spoken often with his granddaughter Sierra, who shared that while she’s always known her grandparents had an incredible love, watching Jack care for Reva Dean during her final month has been the most beautiful thing she’s ever witnessed.
Jack had never grocery shopped or cooked meals before, but over the last several months, he took on every role needed to care for his bride. Sierra watched him fry his very first egg at 90 years old, hoping it might tempt Reva Dean to eat. That is love—tender and soft, yet strong, fragile, and courageous all at once. It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you pour into the doing. I pray we all find a Jack kind of love. After all, we’re really just walking each other home.
After I shared these photos on Facebook, messages began pouring in from “Jack fans” who wanted to send cards and words of encouragement as he prepared to lose his wife. One person suggested sharing his address so people across America could support him through this heartbreaking season. I loved the idea but worried about privacy. When I spoke with his family, they came up with the perfect solution—have all mail sent to the P.O. Box at his church. Brilliant.
Because a true love story never really ends.
In October, I invited others to join me in sending Jack letters of encouragement, hoping this simple act of kindness would bring comfort to his grieving heart. Secretly, I hoped for maybe 100 cards. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine what would happen next.
Jack has now received 435 letters from all over the world. Cards and drawings from classrooms full of children, letters from college students, newlyweds, widows, deployed service members, families, the elderly, hospital patients, and nursing home residents. He even received a certified letter of condolence from the President and First Lady of the United States. Each letter carried sympathy, encouragement, scripture, and stories of hope—reminding Jack that he is not alone.
When I recently sat down with Jack, he smiled from ear to ear as he told me how much he looks forward to checking the mail every day with Lassie. He laughed as he shared that Lassie will only carry white envelopes—she drops the colored ones halfway home. Although I asked that mail be sent to the church, the local postman stopped by to make sure everything was okay. He said he’d never seen so much mail delivered to one place in all of Bybee, Tennessee.
Jack told me these letters give him something to look forward to each day. He reads every single one. They’ve made him laugh, cry, and smile—and most importantly, they’ve brought joy in the midst of loss. His favorites are the letters from children. Some have sent drawings of their pets and farm animals, and one little girl even mailed him her rock collection after learning about his beloved field diamonds.
My heart has never been more grateful to witness a community—and a nation—come together through love. I’ve seen firsthand how the smallest act of kindness, something as simple as a letter, can connect hearts and help heal the brokenhearted.
The Bible tells us in James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” Thank you to everyone who answered that call and walked alongside Sweet Jack during this season. As Christmas approaches, I encourage you to look for others who may be carrying similar loneliness and remind them they are deeply loved and never alone.
And finally, if you’re the Christmas card–sending type, please remember Jack. He’s only missing cards from five states to complete the entire U.S. map—and his family is tracking it on an app! Let’s fill that map with color. Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Vermont—where are you? Help us make this Christmas wish come true.
You can send mail to:
Jack Rice
C/O Bruners Grove Church
P.O. Box 33
Bybee, TN 37713
