Jade Goody’s bridesmaids who pledged to look after her boys tell how they stepped up and kept the late reality star’s spirit alive
IN the days before her death, Jade Goody’s closest friends made a final promise that brought a smile to her face.
The women — all bridesmaids at the reality star’s wedding a month before she died — vowed they would care for her sons Bobby and Freddie, then five and four, who she had with estranged partner Jeff Brazier.
Now, in an exclusive interview to mark ten years since her death, Kelly Wyatt, Jennifer Smith, Charlene Steele and Caroline Silverstein tell how they help fill the void left by Jade — giving the boys lifts, sending them texts saying “I love you” and showing them up in front of their friends.
And they reveal how dying Jade wanted to write her sons letters for their 18th birthdays but was too frail.
Jennifer, 39, told The Sun on Sunday: “All Jade worried about was that her boys would be looked after financially and cared for.
“We told her we would be there for them. She was pleased. They’re a testament to Jade but they have had difficult times and counselling.
“We can’t replace their mum but we help keep Jade’s spirit alive.
“We still watch old videos of their mum with them and cuddle them. They will always say, ‘Tell me something funny about Mum’.
“Every time we go round we write down a memory of her and put it in a box for them to read whenever they are down.
“We do all the things Jade would have done if she was here — give them lifts, have sleepovers with them, text them to tell them we love them and embarrass them in front of all their friends.”
Big Brother star Jade died aged 27 just six months after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. A month before her death she wed Jack Tweed, 31.
Mum-of-two Kelly, 38, said: “She was told she had cancer on Celebrity Big Brother in India. She called me in tears.
“I was stunned. I know it sounds bad but Jade had a knack of misconstruing things so I was forever hoping she’d got it wrong.”
Childhood friend and mum-of-two Charlene, 37, said: “She called us all into the hospital in London and told us she was dying. She was devastated.
“I’d never seen her so angry. She said, ‘Why would God give me these beautiful boys and then take them away from me?’
“Everyone was in pieces. But in typical Jade fashion she told us she was getting married to Jack and asked us to be bridesmaids.”
Within days a hen do was arranged at Jade’s Essex home with masseurs and beauty therapists.
Kelly said: “At her hen do she was ill and frustrated. She kept saying, ‘At least you haven’t got a bald head’.”
The friends helped arrange a wedding at luxury hotel Down Hall, Herts, in less than two weeks.
They laugh fondly as they remember Jade cutting Jack’s invites so she could have more guests.
Jennifer said: “She kept saying, ‘Jack will get married again, I won’t’.
“She was slashing his list but then invited chef Aldo Zilli on her side who she hardly knew.”
The day before the wedding, the young bride-to-be was devastated when she had to scrub off her fake tan because it reacted with her skin following chemotherapy. Her bridesmaids tried to cheer her up by wearing bald-head hats in solidarity.
They travelled to the venue by helicopter. Charlene said: “It was so silent up there. We all started crying. Jade said, ‘It’s so beautiful, I don’t want this to end’.”
She was able to walk down the aisle with her beloved grandad John Craddock — who died 18 months ago, aged 79 — but needed treatment every ten minutes during the ceremony.
Caroline, 38, who Jade met on a holiday in Marbella, said: “She was dancing on the tables at the reception when the doctors had told her to be in her wheelchair. She gave everything to that day.”
Caroline, Charlene and Jade’s mum Jackiey Budden, 60, carried her to bed. Charlene recalled: “Jade said, ‘Don’t let anyone know I’ve gone. Don’t let anyone see me leave’.
“Jack came up briefly. Jade was out of it and asleep. I told her the next day he’d stayed with her all night, she didn’t need to know any different.”
Jennifer added: “He was drinking and dancing. He stayed out late with the boys.” Guests even told them Jack pushed his pals around in her wheelchair.
Caroline said: “Jade went downhill. She was so ill the next day, she went home and never left again.”
Kelly added: “We knew the end was near. Jade started giving us all instructions. At her funeral she wanted, ‘No drinking, everyone in black and everyone crying’.”
Charlene said: “I was with her right up to the end. She’d wanted to write letters herself to Bobby and Freddie to open on their 18th but was too weak.
“It broke her heart. Her last words to me were, ‘I love you’.”
Jade died in her sleep and Jackey called her friends at 2am to break the devastating news.
Jade, who raked in £1million from a magazine deal to cover her wedding and a TV documentary following her struggle, left a large sum of money and three homes to be shared among her boys. But after the estate was hit for £1.8million in unpaid income tax and other debts, just one property remains.
Charlene said: “She has looked after her boys and they are in the best hands with Jeff.”
One person not in the boys’ lives is Jade’s former husband Jack, now a builder.
After Jade’s death he served time in jail for assaulting a taxi driver but wrote to the bridesmaids from prison begging to see the boys.
Jennifer said: “Jeff took the kids round to Jack’s once or twice but they don’t see each other now and we haven’t really spoken to Jack.
“Jeff was trying to do the right thing by the kids. He wanted to stop them getting hurt any more.”
Caroline said: “Jack was young. He’d sometimes forget to ring the kids because he was out with his mates. I think he’s grown up and I’m sure he’d love to see the kids. It must be really hard for him.”
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Jeff has since found happiness with PR director Kate Dwyer. They married in Portugal last September with Jeff’s sons as best men.
Jennifer said: “They were so happy for him. They are amazing boys. Bobby is the spit of Jade, he will follow in her footsteps.
“Freddie is smart, with Jade’s savviness. No one will ever forget Jade as long as her wonderful boys are around. We miss her daily but she left so much behind that reminds us of her.”
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