Jade Goody would have loved it. Thousands of people lining the streets of the funeral route from London to Essex, passing by all the places she knew and loved, throwing flowers, applauding, laughing and crying as she passes by on her last journey.
How many of us get to plan our last goodbyes as meticulously as Jade did, and in the face of such pain and heartache…? she is going out in style in the full glare of the media spotlight which both adored her and, at times, villified her.
Many of those people lining the route probably at some stage thought of her with disdain, just as many were proud that a normal girl, just like themselves grabbed at the star that is opportunity and ran with it until illness stopped her in her tracks. Many of those who had no time for Jade when she was alive have changed their opinion of her through seeing her courage when fighting her cancer; for holding above all else her fears and plans for her two young sons, Bobby and Freddy.
Jade was like few celebrities today; approachable, flawed and completely down to earth. She came from nothing, with no education other than that gleened from a tough early life and a burning desire to better herself and succeed. Where many celebrities will try to hide the truth of their less than ideal, less than glamourous roots, Jade embraced hers; she never apologised for who she was or where she came from even though that background influenced the way she spoke and behaved at times. In facing death full on she also drove a very strong message home to women everywhere – your future lies in looking after your health.
The scenes today are incredible; even though one might scoff at comparisons to Princess Diana – and they have been made recently and certainly scoffed at – the evidence is there to see. The masses of flowers on the funeral cars, the crowds, the tears. Where Diana was almost beatified in death, Jade has simply become loved.
Jade no doubt would be loving this send off today – a ‘Jade Goody Production’ as flamboyant, unorthodox and lively as the girl herself. You might say it is a shame she cannot be here to enjoy it…but I reckon she is 
Popularity: 64% [?]
