Jade Goody’s mother Jackiey Budden appeared heartbroken as she visited the late star’s grave in Epping Forest on Wednesday, 14 years after her death.
Looking bereft, the Celebrity Big Brother alum, 66, sobbed while polishing Jade’s headstone and laying down images of the star and her children Bobby, who is currently appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, and Freddie.
One of the images she placed on the grave showed Bobby, 20, and his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell, 34, dancing on the show with the words: ‘Doing Jade proud’ laid on top, while she also left childhood shots of the boys.
Jackiey’s upset has been well-documented, as earlier this month, she spoke of her heartache at being unable to watch her grandson perform on Strictly from the studio audience due to a family rift with his father Jeff Brazier.
Speaking about her trip to the grave, a friend of Jackiey’s told : ‘She wants more than anything to show Bobby that he is thinking of her on what is most certainly the biggest day of his career…
Jade Goody’s mother Jackiey Budden appeared heartbroken as she visited the late star’s grave in Epping Forest on Wednesday, 14 years after her death
Looking bereft, the Celebrity Big Brother alum, 66, sobbed while polishing Jade’s headstone and laying down images of the star and her children Bobby, who is currently appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, and Freddie
One of the images she placed on the grave showed Bobby, 20, and his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell , 34, dancing on the show with the words: ‘Doing Jade proud’ laid on top, while she also left childhood shots of the boys
Jackiey worked hard at creating a festive scene at the graveside, as she placed an Elf On A Shelf mascot in a nearby tree, erected Christmas tree shaped decorations and then vigorously polished the headstone with a cloth
She laid out the Christmas trimmings on the headstone at the Essex cemetery
Jeff is pictured leaving the Royal Marsden Hospital with his sons in March 2009, shortly before Jade’s tragic death
She was seen bending down to speak while visiting the grave
Because of a falling-out with Bobby’s father Jeff Brazier, Jackiey has been unable to secure a seat at any of the live shows (Bobby and Dianne are pictured on the show)
‘She couldn’t be there to watch him in person but Jackiey wanted to show her love and support and this was literally the only way she knew how…
‘She also wanted to get Jade’s voice out there, she wanted to make sure it was remembered that Bobby was Jade’s son as well as Jeff’s. She is the boys’ only link to Jade and she doesn’t want that forgotten.’
Jackiey worked hard at creating a festive scene at the graveside, as she placed an Elf On A Shelf mascot in a nearby tree, erected Christmas tree shaped decorations and then vigorously polished the headstone with a cloth.
Jade appeared on Big Brother’s third series back in 2002, entering the house as an unknown dental assistant from south-east London before soaring to huge fame however she tragically passed away from cervical cancer in 2009.
Earlier this month, revealed that Jackiey has been kept away from the Strictly audience over a heartbreaking family rift.
Ahead of his second performance, Bobby was sent a series of good luck messages from friends and family. His dad Jeff had said that getting to the son would be the ‘best Christmas present’ – but his grandmother was nowhere to be seen.
Because of a falling-out with Jeff, his maternal grandmother Jackiey has been unable to secure a seat at any of this series’ live shows.
Three days ago Jackiey gave up and came up with a different plan to illustrate her support for the Strictly sensation. A source tells me: ‘It’s non-negotiable, Jackiey isn’t going to Strictly. ‘
Speaking about her trip to the grave, a friend of Jackiey’s told : ‘She wants more than anything to show Bobby that he is thinking of her on what is most certainly the biggest day of his career’
Jackiey held a bag full of the decor for the grave while heading home
She was clearly broken by the trip to the grave
Poignantly, it meant that she missed his emotional tribute to his late mother – and her only child – Jade a fortnight ago (Jade and Jeff are pictured in August 2002)
She was weeping while speaking to her late daughter at the grave
Only last week, Jackiey described the TV presenter, who has been attending the shows at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire with youngest son Freddy, as a ‘c**k’
She was seen speaking to her late daughter
She smiled fondly as she looked upon a picture of her daughter
She cut a solemn figure as she departed the graveyard
She was working hard to keep her daughter’s place of rest pristine
Friends of the family said Jackiey and Jeff, who has looked after the boys since Jade’s death, fell out some years back and have not been able to repair their relationship.
Only last week, Jackiey described the TV presenter, who has been attending the shows at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire with youngest son Freddy, as a ‘c**k’.
One friend told the Mail: ‘Jeff and Jackiey haven’t got on for a long time and it has been hard. It has meant that Jackiey hasn’t been able to be in the audience to watch Bobby, things are just too bad between her and his father…
‘He and his brother Freddy are her only grandchildren and she adores them, there is nothing she would love more than to be there to watch him live.’
Only last week, Jackiey described the TV presenter, who has been attending the shows at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire with youngest son Freddy, as a ‘c**k’
One friend told the Mail: ‘Jeff and Jackiey haven’t got on for a long time and it has been hard. It has meant that Jackiey hasn’t been able to be in the audience to watch Bobby, things are just too bad between her and his father’
Jackiey appeared emotional at the gravesite as she visited her daughter