Janice Edwards

Janice Edwards, 87, of Abilene, passed away on April 7, 2026, in Abilene, Texas.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 pm Sunday, April 12, 2026, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, April 13, 2026, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home with Mike Greenfield of First Baptist Church Abilene officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Merkel, Texas. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Janice was born north of Trent, in Taylor County, to Mathew Lovel Rutledge and Flora Agnes James Rutledge on March 26, 1939. She attended school in Trent and Merkel. She graduated from Merkel High School in 1957 where she was a cheerleader for four years. She married Johnnie Deloss Edwards on April 24, 1959, in Trent, Texas. She did clerical work for West Texas Wholesale Supply Company and the City of Abilene. She was a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church and taught 3-year-old Sunday School for over 20 years.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Lovel and Agnes Rutledge and her in-laws, Murel and Ada Edwards, her siblings and their spouses: Joye Rutledge Stevens and MZ, Jean Rutledge Higgins and Ollie Jr., her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Patsy Edwards Harney and Selby, her brothers-in-law, Alvin Edwards and Bobby Burton.

Janice is survived by her husband of 67 years, Deloss Edwards, their children, DeAnn Edwards Yeilding and Mark, Donnie Edwards and Kathy, Jana Edwards Ammons and Steven; sister-in-law Darlene Burton; their grandchildren, Amy Yeilding Henson and James, Matthew Yeilding and Melissa, Kelsey Edwards McCandless and Kris, Landon Ammons and Luke Ammons, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Mark Yeilding, Matthew Yeilding, Steven Ammons, Landon Ammons and Luke Ammons.

Memorials may be given to Hendrick Hospice Care.

The family of Janice wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Farrell, Jennifer RN, and Yolanda CNA, and all of Hendrick Hospice Care.