Julia "Judy" Burrow

Julia (Judy) Hudson Burrow of Abilene passed away on May 13, 2022, in Abilene.

Visitation will be 5-7 pm Thursday, May 19, 2022, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Graveside service will be held at 10 am on Friday, May 20, 2022, at Tecumseh Cemetery

(FM 1178, Clyde TX) with Mrs. Burrow’s grandson, Cole Rhoades, officiating.

Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Judy was born to G.W. and Dixie Hudson on February 2, 1937, along with her beloved twin brother, Jimmy. They were welcomed home by big sisters Jo and Melba and big brother Don who were surprised at the homecoming of two babies! Judy went to school at Hodges and Hawley, where she was voted “Most Beautiful” and played basketball. Judy (all five feet and one inch) and her twin brother Jimmy (who towered one foot over Judy), were proud Hawley Bearcats when both the girls’ and boys’ teams played in the state tournament in 1953. It was during that basketball season that Dan Burrow was at a game to watch his girlfriend (and future wife) play and just happened to see her make a half-court shot at the buzzer for a big win. From that day on, he referred to Judy as a “Cracker Jack” on the court. The “Cracker Jack” story has passed down through the family generations and still brought a smile to Judy’s face even in her final days. Judy and Dan married on September 12,1953 at Hawley, Texas and were married almost 49 years before Dan passed away on March 13, 2002. Military service (Navy & USAF) took Judy and Dan to Corpus Christi, San Diego, and Portland. They later pastored Baptist churches in the Abilene area, Sweetwater, Sand Springs, Stephenville, and Trinidad, CO. Judy spent most of her adult life as a full-time homemaker, pastor’s wife, and mother, but she also worked at Hardin-Simmons University in the Registrar’s office and as a teller at Texas National Bank in Sweetwater. As a pastor’s wife, she enjoyed teaching ladies’ Bible study classes, led many groups of children and teens to church camps, and particularly enjoyed hosting young couple groups in their Sweetwater home for weekly Bible studies and fellowship.

Judy excelled in her role as MawMaw. She happily acquired that title in May of 1978 and relished it until her very last days. A few of her particular MawMaw talents included:  making the best chocolate milk, holding the title of Nintendo Duck Hunt champion, head- and ear-rubbing for sleepy loved ones, singing about Jesus while rocking babies to sleep, allowing extensive blanket forts to be erected in the living area, showing endless patience with all the grand plans of the grandkids, baiting countless fishing hooks for little fishing partners, swinging and visiting on the back porch, cooking extraordinary peach cobbler and breakfast burrit”A”s, watching and applauding endless shows written, produced and performed by grandkids, keeping plenty of Little Debbie cakes and other snacks on hand, and always making sure that the parents knew that the grandkids and great-grandkids never needed to be scolded.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband, Dan, in 2002, son Jeff Burrow in 2003, and grandson Justin Burleson in 2012; her parents, G.W. and Dixie Hudson, brothers Don Hudson and Jimmy Hudson, and sisters Jo Fraser and Melba Hay.

Judy is survived by her son, Rickie Burrow and wife, Sue; daughters Lesa Burt and Dana Rhoades and husband, James; brother-in-law, Jerry Burrow and wife Sandy, and sisters-in-law, Gaye McCarty, Carolyn Morris, Lusti Burrow, and Peggy Hudson; Grandchildren Jeremy Burt and wife, Stephanie, Julie Humecki and husband, Brian, Gabe Burt, Tony Richards and wife, Lauren, Cole Rhoades and wife, Kaitlen, Megann Burrow and Trevor Martin, Kate Burrow and Casey Shannon, and Jamee Rhoades; Great-grandchildren Avery Burt, Ethan and Erica Humecki, Alex and Hannah Humecki, Hudson, Hayden and Harley Burleson, Mason, Reese and Maggie Richards, Eleanor Rhoades, Wes Crow, Railey and Morgan Martin.

Memorials may be made to Avondale Baptist Church in Sweetwater or Tecumseh Cemetery Association, c/o Patty Ellis, 15795 CR 205, Clyde, Texas 79510.

The family of Judy Burrow wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff of Wisteria Place and Hendrick Hospice for the loving care provided for our mother during her final