Janice Marie Byrd was born on November 13, 1960 to Delmar Clyde "D.C." Byrd, Jr. and Tina Nancy Booker "NB" Marcellus McNary Byrd at the Burns Hospital in Cuero, Texas. She was the youngest of five children. Janice attended John C. French, Hunt, & Daule Elementary, Cuero Junior High and Cuero High School, graduating in 1979. During her high school years, she ran track, played volleyball, basketball, and was in the band.

After graduating from high school, Janice moved to Houston, Texas and started working at American General. She worked at American General until she took an early layoff retirement package in 2011. While working at American General (which was later purchased by AIG), Janice started a part-time business as an event coordinator and wedding planner. She loved decorating and making people's dreams come true. She also worked at Reliant Center (now NRG Center) as one of the special events supervisors.

Janice was the proud mother of a baby boy born May 13, 1981, whom she named Quenton Delmar Pernell Byrd.  She later became the proud Nana to her grandson, Amir. Janice was well-liked and enjoyed helping people. This was evident through her work with underprivileged girls to whom she served as a mentor.

One unique trait Janice had was being her own personal GPS way before GPS was a thing.  She was really good at finding her way around wherever she traveled — no matter the city or state. The one thing she was not good at was cooking. It was not one of her specialties. It was known that if Janice was in the kitchen, don't eat it! Janice was very outgoing, and she particularly enjoyed dancing and singing. She thought she was a comedian, too. She would make jokes, thinking she was funny — laughing at her own stories, even if no one else did.

Janice accepted Christ and was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Cuero, Texas. When she moved to Houston, she initially joined Holman Street Baptist Church, then Brentwood Baptist Church from 1986-2004. She finally settled in at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in 2006 and sang in the choir, where she remained.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, D.C. and N.B. Byrd; her sister, Barbara Byrd and her brother, Gary Byrd. She leaves to cherish her memory, her son, Quenton Byrd; her grandson, Amir Byrd; her sisters, Shirley Mitchell and Ruth Henderson; her nephews, Stephen (LaTonier) Mitchell and Russell (Monique) Henderson; her niece, RaShanda (Jermaine) Brooks; one great-nephew, De'Ondre Mitchell; four great nieces, RaShanda Mitchell, Jazmyn Henderson, Isley Henderson, and Amayah Brooks; three great-great nieces, Jaylah Mitchell, Kaylah Zephyr, and Aaliyah Henson; two great-great nephews, Jeremiah Mitchell and Kaden Todd; and a host family and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, October 12, 2023, 1:00 PM at Freund Funeral Home with Funeral Services beginning at 2:00 PM with Rev. Janella Pyles officiating.  Interment will follow at New Hope Cemetery.

Pallbearers include Steven Mitchel, Russell Henderson, Jermaine Brooks and Quenton Byrd.

You may sign the guestbook or send condolences at www.freundfuneralhome.com.

Freund Funeral Home, 361.275.2343.