Hundreds Attend Funeral of Councillor Jean Campbell

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White City residents pay their respects to much loved community member

The Shepherd's Bush community came out in force to honour their much loved councillor Jean Campbell at her funeral on November 30.

Nearly 600 residents, councillors, community leaders, friends and family attended a service at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in White City, where Jean was an active church member, followed by a procession to Kensal Crematorium.

Jean, who had represented residents in Wormholt and White City ward for six years, passed away suddenly on November 17, aged 65.

Tributes were paid to Jean for her character, the love she had for her family and her work representing her community. Eulogies came from her son, Sean, and Cllr Stephen Cowan, H&F Council Opposition Leader. The opening hymn was ‘How Great Thou Art and the service ended with May the Choir of Angels.

Cllr Stephen Cowan said: "For Jean, looking out for others was just part of how she lived her life. Jean was the original community leader – always thinking how she could get something done for her constituents and working to make things better."

At the funeral service Jean’s son Sean Delauney gave a moving eulogy. Cllr Cowan also spoke and talked of the last meeting he had with Jean, who he described as having ‘a twinkle in her eye’ and ‘a mischievous sense of humour’.

" I last visited Jean at her home the Sunday before she passed away. After we finished working on a difficult problem, Jean suggested I push a button on what I thought to be a TV control attached to the chair I was sitting in. It was the electronic control for the chair.

" The surprise shot across my face as the chair tilted back and my legs rose horizontally. Jean hooted with laughter and we chatted and joked for the rest of the visit. I will really miss her."

Cllr Cowan said: " Jean would have been both proud and deeply embarrassed at the many tributes people have sent. She was a community leader, tenant activist, politician, neighbour, friend, daughter, mother and grandmother. It was her quiet goodness that, I think, explains why she was loved by so many. She was a cornerstone of this community and we were deeply proud of her."

Jean was born in Belmont, St. Andrew, Jamaica in 1947 and was part of the great pioneer generation that arrived in Britain in the post war period.

Much of her life was dedicated to public service. Jean worked as an auxiliary nurse in the West London Hospital at Queen Street, Hammersmith, then as a civil servant in the Department of Trade and Industry.

Jean was an active member of her local church, Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church, a member of the Hammersmith Labour Party’s general committee and an executive member of the White City Tenants and Residents Association – having been re-elected as its treasurer just last Wednesday.

Jean did all of this while volunteering in her local  community and bringing up four sons. For the last seven years Jean was also the carer for her partner Jones Delauney – who sadly died in July after a long illness. Jean lived with her mum.

Jean had spent her last weeks compiling provisions to send to Jamaica after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. Her Excellency, Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, the High Commissioner for Jamaica wrote to pass on her condolences on behalf of “the people of Jamaica” saying that Jean was “a stalwart of her community and her passing will cause a vacuum.”

Jean’s family have asked that in remembrance, any donations should be sent to the Jamaican High Commission Hurricane Relief Fund, via the Jamaican High Commission in London, with a line noting that it is part of the Jean Campbell Hurricane Sandy Memorial Donation. Cheques should be posted to the Jamaican High Commission, The Jean Campbell Hurricane Sandy Memorial Donation, 1 Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BZ.

Cllr Nicholas Botterill, H&F Council Leader, said: "Everyone at the council is deeply saddened at Jean’s sudden death. She was a well-known member of the Wormholt and White City community and will be sorely missed by all who knew her."

Residents have also been offering their own tributes through the council’s website. Margaret Cornibert said: “I knew Jean from the 1980s when I lived in Hudson Close. She always had a smile on her face and a lovely manner. I went to see her when her partner died and sat with her and Sean, her son, where we reminisced about the old days. I'm so glad I went to see her. She will be so missed by all those who knew and loved her.”

White City resident, Vinice Cleary, said: " I met Jean and her family on the White City Estate, back in the late 90s. I had just moved back from Scotland. Jean was a very nice lady who was very supportive of me and my son, helping us to settle into inner city community life."

Jean is survived by her mother, Una Dacres, her four sons Mark, Benny, Sean and Peter, and their families. Jean’s partner, Jones Delauney, died in July after a long illness.

 

December 5, 2012