Tribute to former Southam mayoress, florist and "well-loved" townswoman Jacky Graham who "loved life" and "made a difference"

Southam has lost a very popular resident in former town florist and mayoress Jacky Graham.
Jacky GrahamJacky Graham
Jacky Graham

Jacky, 79, died at her home on April 5 having battled bravely against cancer in her later days.

Ann Jakeway, Jacky's friend who has written words in tribute on behalf of the family, said: "Jacky was a well-loved and respected member of the community, having been involved in so many activities during her lifetime and will always be remembered as a caring, compassionate and kind-hearted person.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"She had boundless energy and a wonderful sense of community spirit.

Jacky GrahamJacky Graham
Jacky Graham

"She was always willing to help anyone who needed it.

"Jacky loved life and was one of those people who made a difference.

"She will be remembered with great affection and will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her.

"She was a very special lady."

Jacky was born and raised in Southam.

Her father Jack had a garage and taxi business, he was also a journalist and a well-known local musician in the Jack Cardall Band.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sadly for Jacky her mother May died when she was only 15 leaving her to help her father bring up herself and her three brothers

.She attended Kings High School in Warwick and later trained as a florist - a career which she loved.

Jacky met her future husband Ken Graham at a local dance and they were married in August 1961.

They set up home in Southam having two sons, Alistair and Andrew of whom they were very proud.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jacky opened her first floristry shop in Warwick Road in 1963 and in 1988 moved to new premises on Market Hill in the centre of Southam.

With Ken’s help she expanded her business in the 1990s, taking on a further two flower shops in Rugby, but it was always in her home town that she was the happiest.

Ann said: "Many local people remember Jacky from her years in the shop, always happy to give advice and help on the choice of flowers for every occasion.

"Although Jacky retired some years ago, the florist’s shop is still on Market Hill and still bears her name."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jacky had a strong Christian faith and was an active member of St James' church in Southam for the whole of her life.

She was always willing to help with all church activities including fetes and coffee mornings as well as being involved in the church flower rota for more than 50 years.

Ann said: "Jacky was also one of the main organisers of the Church Flower Festivals.

"Her commitment to the local church and community was evidenced by a letter received shortly before her passing from the Archbishop of Canterbury

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, who remembered Jacky from his time as the Vicar at Southam.

"His kind words and suggestion that after many years looking after the community, it was now the turn of the community and family to look after her made her feel her time had been well spent."

Ken was Southam mayor in both 1984 and 1988 and also a founder member of the Southam and District Lions Club and a founder of the town's Twinning Association.

Jacky was there to support him for all of this and when he died in 2011 she continued to help the Lions for the rest of her life.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

An active member of Leamington and Warwick Soroptimists for 30 years and its president in 2014/15 during her years with the organisation Jacky was involved with fundraising events for Warwick Hospital, the Rehabilitation Hospital, Myton Hospice and Macmillan Nurses.

Many people will remember the annual Soroptimists Swimathon events held at Warwick School.

Over the years the swimathon raised many thousands of pounds for good causes.

A group of Soroptimists, including Jacky, volunteered to improve the appearance of Leamington Railway Station by providing plants for the platforms.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Being of the Cardall family, Jacky was a keen supporter of the Cardall Collection started by her father.

The collection of artefacts, documents and pictures from Southam's past has grown over the years and is now known as the Southam Heritage Collection which is still maintained by volunteers to this day.

Singing and upholstery were two of Jacky's passions.

Due to the former, she was a member of the Karousels choir which formed in Southam in 1989 - which is now known as The Melody Makers - Sing Live, for which she sang at Birmingham Symphony Hall and at Walt Disney World in Florida, and the 300-strong Midland Voices choir.

The friends and classmates she had from her interest in the latter will complete the last project she had been set, a slipper chair, in her honour.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ann said: "Jacky was never happier than when she was gardening.

"Over the years she hosted countless coffee mornings and garden parties for various charities including MacMillan and Myton Hospice to name two.

"She was a keen supporter of Southam In Bloom and always opened her garden for Southam Open Gardens.

"Members of the public were able to share her lovely garden as well as enjoying ploughman’s lunches, homemade cakes and a cup of tea.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"In recent years she was approached by the National Garden Scheme to open her garden under their prestigious umbrella.

"She felt very honoured that she had had that opportunity but sadly, due to her ill health, she only managed to open the garden for them on one occasion.

"It is hoped that in the months ahead it will be possible to open the garden again in line with Jacky’s wishes."

Jacky’s funeral is at Banbury Crematorium on Friday (May 1) at 11am with the restrictions presently imposed limiting numbers significantly.

But the service can be viewed via the webcast on www.obitus.com (username – banbury5632 password- 248247).

A memorial service for Jacky will also be held once the current restrictions are relaxed.

Related topics: