Remembering Beattie

She was born in 1924 and she lived to the age of 94, still living independantly in the same flat she moved into when her council block was built in 1961.

She was Bermondsey born and bred. She was a widow for 53 years.

In the Second World War she narrowly escaped being killed by a doodlebug at the Blue. She was a mother, a grandmother, and a great grandmother and she was a Christian through and through.

In 2008 she was awarded the Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey by the Mayor of Southwark in recognition of her service to the community, not least through CUM (now the Salmon Youth Centre) and St James's School (where for many years she heard children read).

Today her funeral took place in St James, the church she had attended for more than fifty years, being one of the group from CUM who came to re-open St James for worship in 1967.

We sang her favourite hymns (the King of Love my shepherd is; Amazing Grace; Abide with me) - all chosen by her, as was the bible reading (John 14.1-6) - we had some wonderful tributes and we gave thanks to God for a life lived to the full in the service of the Gospel - it was only a year ago that she finally 'retired' as a helper at St James parent and toddler group, Little Angels, alongside her great friend, Pat, who did today's bible reading.

In her Bible, was the prayer she said every night before she went to sleep.

It went like this: 'Goodnight Lord Jesus. I love you. I'll see you in the morning either here or in heaven.'

Now she is with him. Forever.