Sunday, December 02, 2012
Farewell Pauline Hurd - Hameeda
As I was scrolling through my FB notifications yesterday I came across an event.
I was a little perturbed and logged into my email account to check for the surname of my own friend, Pauline. Inna Lila Hi Wa Inna Ilai Hi Rajeun - From God Almighty we come and to Him is our return.
I met Pauline in 2005 through a mutual friend and since then we became friends. We attended a number of events together and Pauline was such a joyful character to travel with. We met whilst I was on sick-leave from work and her warmth and caring words would fill me with a sense of hope. Pauline herself had Lupus and spoke about wanting to do an awareness day with us young ones about it some day.
As the years passed and my health started to get better, I had to get back on track with career. I still remember Pauline telling me how important it was to ensure I got my expenses paid if I volunteered somewhere. She really looked out for me and gave me good advice.
One day during a telephone conversation for some reason I was a little down and she said:
In the Caribbean we have a saying which goes:
What is meant to be for you - can't not be for you.
I scribbled it down at the back of an envelope and kept it on my desk to remind me - it gave me so much strength.
Pauline had some cards painted by me. We infused my 'Finding God' theme into the colours of the Jamaican flag: green, yellow and black. She told me to make her a few and that she would sell them too. She always tried to help me in whatever way she could.
My last contact with Pauline was in March this year. I had misplaced her number and thus had not been in touch with her. At the same time, there was a friend who wanted to get in touch with a marriage counsellor: one of Pauline's friend. I emailed her requesting both her and her friend's number, ending the email with the following:
Btw I am married ;-)
Pauline replied with:
Alhamdulilah BTW I'm married lol, what a statement.
My husband saw one of her emails and said he really liked her closing email signature which she had set as:
"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him"
I called Pauline but she was busy, she emailed me to tell me she had been busy all day and had a cold. Little did I realise that this would be our last contact.
I feel very sad that our joyful friend has gone and that myself and my friend will be amongst many who will no longer be able to hear her cheerful voice. I still feel in shock but I am happy that Pauline was able to perform her pilgrimage before her departure. As my friend said this evening: "Now we know someone whose buried in Mecca!"
//
A memorial service to honour Pauline Hurd will be held on Saturday 8th December 2012 at the Drum, Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU. The memorial service will begin at 2.00pm and finish at 18.00 hours.
Pauline died on Sunday 21st October 2012 having completed the Umrah during her pilgrimage to Mekkah, Saudi Arabia.
Pauline had a real passion for community, championing the cause for the marginalised and those with ‘no voice’, particularly young people. Those who know Pauline loved her zest for life, her vision and the dedication she showed in what she believed in.
Pauline had worked in Birmingham in areas such as housing, regeneration and community development for many years. Latterly, she was particularly focused on issues around access to community resources and community safety. She also volunteered on a number of committees related to community safety and justice.
Pauline leaves behind her elderly mother, her two beloved sons, her grandchildren, daughters in law, sisters, brothers, her nieces, nephews, extended family and last but not least her community family.
This memorial is in recognition of the love that her family and the community had for Pauline and for her contribution to the development and well-being of the community.
The community have asked that a bench be commissioned to commemorate Pauline’s contributions. Donations are welcomed and will go towards this lasting tribute.
For further details please contact:
Camille E Ade-John
Mobile: 07983 581 994
camille@cvwm.org
Cllr Paulette Hamilton
Mobile: 0787 8437 661
Facebook Page
I was a little perturbed and logged into my email account to check for the surname of my own friend, Pauline. Inna Lila Hi Wa Inna Ilai Hi Rajeun - From God Almighty we come and to Him is our return.
I met Pauline in 2005 through a mutual friend and since then we became friends. We attended a number of events together and Pauline was such a joyful character to travel with. We met whilst I was on sick-leave from work and her warmth and caring words would fill me with a sense of hope. Pauline herself had Lupus and spoke about wanting to do an awareness day with us young ones about it some day.
As the years passed and my health started to get better, I had to get back on track with career. I still remember Pauline telling me how important it was to ensure I got my expenses paid if I volunteered somewhere. She really looked out for me and gave me good advice.
One day during a telephone conversation for some reason I was a little down and she said:
In the Caribbean we have a saying which goes:
What is meant to be for you - can't not be for you.
I scribbled it down at the back of an envelope and kept it on my desk to remind me - it gave me so much strength.
Pauline had some cards painted by me. We infused my 'Finding God' theme into the colours of the Jamaican flag: green, yellow and black. She told me to make her a few and that she would sell them too. She always tried to help me in whatever way she could.
My last contact with Pauline was in March this year. I had misplaced her number and thus had not been in touch with her. At the same time, there was a friend who wanted to get in touch with a marriage counsellor: one of Pauline's friend. I emailed her requesting both her and her friend's number, ending the email with the following:
Btw I am married ;-)
Pauline replied with:
Alhamdulilah BTW I'm married lol, what a statement.
My husband saw one of her emails and said he really liked her closing email signature which she had set as:
"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him"
I called Pauline but she was busy, she emailed me to tell me she had been busy all day and had a cold. Little did I realise that this would be our last contact.
I feel very sad that our joyful friend has gone and that myself and my friend will be amongst many who will no longer be able to hear her cheerful voice. I still feel in shock but I am happy that Pauline was able to perform her pilgrimage before her departure. As my friend said this evening: "Now we know someone whose buried in Mecca!"
//
A memorial service to honour Pauline Hurd will be held on Saturday 8th December 2012 at the Drum, Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU. The memorial service will begin at 2.00pm and finish at 18.00 hours.
Pauline died on Sunday 21st October 2012 having completed the Umrah during her pilgrimage to Mekkah, Saudi Arabia.
Pauline had a real passion for community, championing the cause for the marginalised and those with ‘no voice’, particularly young people. Those who know Pauline loved her zest for life, her vision and the dedication she showed in what she believed in.
Pauline had worked in Birmingham in areas such as housing, regeneration and community development for many years. Latterly, she was particularly focused on issues around access to community resources and community safety. She also volunteered on a number of committees related to community safety and justice.
Pauline leaves behind her elderly mother, her two beloved sons, her grandchildren, daughters in law, sisters, brothers, her nieces, nephews, extended family and last but not least her community family.
This memorial is in recognition of the love that her family and the community had for Pauline and for her contribution to the development and well-being of the community.
The community have asked that a bench be commissioned to commemorate Pauline’s contributions. Donations are welcomed and will go towards this lasting tribute.
For further details please contact:
Camille E Ade-John
Mobile: 07983 581 994
camille@cvwm.org
Cllr Paulette Hamilton
Mobile: 0787 8437 661
Facebook Page
Labels: Muslim Women, Obituary, Reflection
