Jeanette Edwards Wilkinson's Obituary
Miriam Jeanette (Edwards) Wilkinson, 92, died peacefully on March 21, with her loving husband by her side. Jeanette was born in Banner, Mississippi, the second of three children and the only daughter of Andrew H. and Euna Clarice Edwards.
While attending Ole Miss, Jeanette spent the summer of 1947 In Mexico City in a Spanish Immersion Program at UNAM, which furthered her love for the Spanish culture and language. Jeanette graduated from Ole Miss and started her career as an English and Spanish teacher in Rosedale, Mississippi, where she met the love of her life, Walter M. Wilkinson. They were married in 1951 and would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in August of this year.
Jeanette and Walter had four daughters and settled in Memphis in 1967. During the time they lived in Memphis, Jeanette was active for many years in the Community Bible Study at Second Presbyterian Church, enjoyed playing bridge with her many friends and cheering at her grandchildren’s many sporting events.
Jeanette and Walter lived in Memphis until Walter’s retirement in 1999, when they moved to Hernando, Mississippi. In Hernando, Jeanette served as a deacon in the Hernando Presbyterian Church and made many wonderful new friends there. She was a lifelong Ole Miss Rebels fan and attended many football and baseball games with Walter. Jeanette loved beautiful things, reading, traveling, and playing with her great-grandchildren.
Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Elwood Edwards. She is survived by her husband, Walter; her brother, Andrew H. Edwards, Jr.; her four daughters: Andrea (Larry) Little, Mary Claire (Terry) Brough, Jan (Mike) Ryan, and Paula (Ed) Wise; nine grandchildren: Len (Haley) McKnatt, Daniel (Amy) Little, Drew (Sadie) Little, Sara (James) Moore, John (Marija) Brough, Christie (Adam) Secrest, Molly Brough Antoine, John Andrew (Sarah) Kalfayan, and Caitlin (Michael) Garza; thirteen great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
The family would also like to thank her wonderful caregivers, Barbara Jones and Marilyn Jones, for their loving kindness to Jeanette over the past year of her life. They have truly been a blessing to Jeanette and to the family.
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