Tribute has been paid to “an amazing loveable formidable woman” who has died aged 78.
Jacqueline Williams, Jacqui to her friends, died on March 17 at QEQM Hospital after a lengthy stay.
A funeral service will be held on May 1 at Thanet crematorium at 12.15pm. The wake will be held at Lester’s pub on Ramsgate Road. All welcome, people are requested to wear bright colours for a celebration of her life.
Jacqui was Mayor of her home town of Ramsgate in 1991, chair of governors at Clarendon when it was the girls school, ran a working man’s club and worked as clerk for Ramsgate, and was briefly Westgate town council’s first permanent clerk.
She was also a dedicated volunteer for many causes.
Jacqui, a former Dane Court Grammar School student, was chair of planning at Thanet council for a time and manager of the Thanet Branch RSPCA animal centre -now known as Woodchurch animal centre.
Close friend Charity Weatherall worked at the RSPCA site with Jacqui.
She said: “Jacqui got a lot of the plans and money in place to get the centre built and running. She did a lot of voluntary work which she didn’t say about, she was very modest about things like that and unless it came up in conversations you didn’t realise she had done it.
“Most recently, in her 70s, she led a volunteer group called GTCO or Getting Thanet On Line which held classes for older people to show them and help them learn how to use tablets and computers. She loved technology and gadgets, I’m a total technophobe and she used to laugh at me!
“She was married to Brian who was her soul mate. Sadly he died in 2006.
“She was my first proper boss and gave me some of the confidence I struggled with. She was always supportive of me, and my family. My daughter was her adopted granddaughter and she became part of our family.
“She was always ready to kick you up the arse if you needed it or give you advice. Without her we wouldn’t be where we are with what we have now.”
Jacqui was a big Dolly Parton fan and loved to travel, especially to Disneyland. She also enjoyed leisurely afternoon teas and was very close to Charity’s parents Doug and Sue Brown.
Charity said: “She was an amazing loveable formidable woman and mum says she had a very infectious laugh.”
Those attending Jacqui’s funeral are requested not to buy flowers but instead make a donation to Age UK or the Dogs Trust via Palmer’s funeral directors.
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