TRIBUTES have been paid to a Rubery community champion who would ‘do anything to help others, always putting them first’.
Jules Kite-Lightfoot, passed away at the age of 60 after a brave five-year cancer battle, ran the Play Days playgroup at St Stephen’s Church in Rednal and also helped her daughter Victoria at her school of dance five days-a-week for the past 12 years.
Everyone attending her funeral at Waseley Hills Crematorium was urged to wear bright colours and – as Jules was not a fan of flowers – there were hundreds of photographs in the funeral car instead.
The funeral directors from Mortons wore rainbow coloured ties and the seats were equally brightly decorated with coloured sashes, also forming a rainbow.
A celebration of her life at The Bell at Belbroughton afterwards was packed with people she had helped over the years – from those living in Rubery to children she had looked after at the playgroup and Victoria’s School of Dance.
Victoria said: “People said to us it was more like a wedding than a funeral which was just how mum would’ve wanted it.
“We had a party to celebrate her life and all she had done for everyone.
“The service was conducted by Rev Steve Jones from St Stephens as we had a lot of involvement with the church as well.
“He said he could not believe the impact one person could have on her community.
“It was not until we were writing the eulogy we realised how much she had done for so many people over the years.
“So many people came up to us during the celebration of her life, telling us stories of how mum had helped them.”
When Jules was diagnosed, the medical staff predicted she would only probably have 12 months but she fought hard against the disease for five years.
Victoria added: “She used to come to run the playgroup as soon as she was discharged from her chemotherapy sessions.
“She also had two brain operations and after those she would set up a group Facetime session – whilst still in intensive care – so she could let us all know she was okay.
“Nothing was too much trouble for mum – she would do anything for anyone and always put other people first,”
Jules was born in Handsworth but moved to Rubery when she was just two years old.
She attended The Coppice School (now Beaconside Primary) and Waseley Hills High.
After leaving school she worked as an administrator at Uddelholm in The Avenue in Rubery where she met her husband-to-be Dave.
They got married at Longbridge Methodist Church in 1985 and went on honeymoon to Paris.
The pair had four children – Victoria, Stuart, Michael and Zoe and six grandchildren who she doted on.
She set up the playgroup after having children and kept it going ever since then.
Just before the first Covid lockdown, Jules held a Macmillan fund-raiser at St Stephens Church, generating £1,000 for the cause.
During lockdown, despite her battle, Jules insisted on home schooling her grandchildren.
Victoria said: “She organised so many activities for them and made learning fun.
“When the children went into school, the teachers said how advanced they were because of all mum’s work.”
Jules was cared for at the Primrose at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital and, instead of flowers, the family requested donations for the charity which receives no NHS funding.
Victoria said: “They were absolutely amazing there, looking after her and mum loved it there.
“We have had £800 donated so far but there’s still quite a bit to come in.”
The family is also planning a fund-raiser in the future in memory of Jules and to thank the Primrose staff for all they did caring for her.
