Friends prepare to say goodbye to Sittingbourne charity stalwart Joyce Fuller
by Hayley Robinson
More than 100 people are expected to attend a thanksgiving
service on Wednesday in memory of charity stalwart Joyce
Fuller.
The 88-year-old died of pneumonia at Medway Maritime Hospital,
Gillingham, on New Year’s Eve, just 24 hours after being
admitted.
Her death came as a shock not only to her son Geoffrey, his wife
Liz and their five-year-old twins Matthew and Ellie, but also the
wider community.
The Mayor of Swale, Cllr Pat Sandle, will attend the memorial,
which will take place at St Michael’s Church, Sittingbourne High
Street, from 2pm.
MP Gordon Henderson will be in attendance and will give a
reading, while Mrs Fuller’s son will read the eulogy.
The pensioner, of Berkeley Court, Sittingbourne, was well known
across the borough for her tireless work for charity and community
organisations.
She was vice-president of the Sittingbourne Society, president
of Swale Footpaths Groups and a member of the joint governing body
for The Oaks Infants and Minterne Junior School.
She was also an active member of the Sittingbourne and Sheppey
Conservative Association, where she was deputy chairman with
special responsibility for Conservative policy forum
discussion.
But her work for the British Heart Foundation will be best
remembered.
After losing her husband Bill, aged 58, to a heart attack in
1978, she set up the Swale and Sittingbourne branch for the charity
in 1984.
Over the years she organised various fundraising events such as
sponsored swims, walks and skipping events, generating £250,000 for
the BHF.
Geoffrey said: “My mother was exceptional. Despite her
increasing infirmities in later years, she continued to have an
enormous amount of energy and a very positive attitude to life.
"Her sheer determination to keep active and to contribute to the
community has been a huge inspiration to me.”
A private family funeral will be held on
Wednesday morning.
Refreshments will be available at Hempstead House Hotel, London
Road, Bapchild, after the memorial service.
Instead of flowers, people are asked to make a donation
to the British Heart Foundation Sittingbourne branch via R. High
and Sons, 1 Bayford Road, Sittingbourne, telephone 01795
472958.
21/01/13
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