Jean Humphris, of Buxted, was known for her thoughtful ways
Well known Buxted resident Jean Humphris died, aged 82, on Sunday, September 4, 2011, after suffering a stroke.
Jean, who lived at Eight Bells Close, was a member of the Women's Institute, Housebound Club and Horticultural Society. She was often described as Buxted's Poet Laureate having had many of her poems published over the past 20 years, some internationally. One of them can be seen below.
Jean lost her husband Donald on Boxing Day last year. The couple, who are pictured here celebrating their Golden Anniversary, had been together for 59 years and missed their Diamond Anniversary by three months.
They lived in Buxted for 24 years and leave four children, Peter and David who have been caring for them for the last few years, Margaret, now based in Leesburg, Virginia, and Gillian who lives in Brisbane, Australia.
Don and Jean attended Buxted Methodist Church but were involved in the community in many different ways. Donald was well-known in local churches for his organ playing and was recently recognised for this by the Organ Club of Great Britain.
Don was also an avid walker and repaired many local stiles and footpaths. Together the couple gave up many weekends providing afternoon tea for the elderly, both transporting them and entertaining them in their own back garden.
Jean was also known for her creative talents. She exhibited many paintings and was often winner in flower arrangement competitions.
She was always busy and believed it was the small things in life that made a difference.
She always remembered to send thank-you letters, never forgot birthdays and anniversaries and if someone was feeling low she went out of her way to try and make them feel better.
In the last few years since she became wheelchair-bound due to osteoporosis she still maintained a positive attitude on life.
She made silk ribbon roses and lavender bags and shared these as tokens of her love wherever she visited. Some of these can still be found in the tea rooms at the Oast Farm.
Jean had also recorded for the Talking Newspaper enabling the blind to enjoy the news.
A Service of Celebration of Jean's life is to be held on Thursday, September 15, 2011, at St Margaret's in the Park, Buxted, at 2pm. All welcome.
Here is one of Jean's poems:
Hope
The wind is whistling through the trees
No longer now a quiet breeze,
The trees look old and brown and bare
Somehow as if they did not care.
The sodden meadow drenched with rain,
The hills look sad and full of pain,
The sky goes dark, the road seems long
The birds are quiet, there is no song.
Then through the clouds, the sun at last
And somehow life gets back its spark.
So in our lives, when touched with pain,
Our faces pressed and life seems vain,
Help us to reach for that sudden gleam
Which filters through almost unseen.
To cast our care on one above,
Who knows our need, whose heart is love,
So that whatever we may face
We’ll find His love sufficient grace.
See also:
(Added to site Monday, September 12th, 2011)
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