‘A Life Dedicated to Caring for Others’: Heartfelt Tributes Paid to Beloved Elm Park Churchwarden and Midwife.

14th July 202614th July 2026 Francesca Lilleystone 0 Comments Church Warden, Elm Park, Havering, St Nicholas Church min read

Tributes have been paid to a much-loved churchwarden, retired midwife and lifelong carer whose kindness, compassion and dedication touched the lives of thousands across Elm Park, Havering and East London.

It is with great sadness that St Nicholas Church, Elm Park, announced the death of Sheila Jackson OSt.J, SRN, SCM, who sadly collapsed at church on Sunday 5 July.

Sheila, a devoted member of the congregation and Churchwarden for the past seven years, served her church community with unwavering enthusiasm, warmth and commitment.

Those who knew her describe her as someone who always put others before herself, offering a friendly smile, a listening ear and endless support to everyone she met.

Away from the church, Sheila dedicated almost four decades of her life to the NHS as a midwife, helping to bring thousands of babies into the world.

Fellow Churchwarden and long-time friend Ian Norris told the Havering Daily:

“Sheila was a midwife to the core who dedicated her entire NHS career to caring for families in East London, bringing new life into the world with skill, compassion, and quiet strength.

Sheila qualified as a Nurse at the Royal London Hospital 57 years ago, becoming a midwife in 1975. Having worked for many years at The Royal London, Rush Green and then Queen’s Hospitals, she retired in 2013 after 38 remarkable years of delivering babies — thousands of lives begun under her care.

Sheila was also a long-serving member of St John Ambulance, having joined as a Cadet. Her first public duty was the State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965, and she rose through the ranks to finish her service as the Area Nursing Officer in London (Prince of Wales’s District’s Eastern Area).

Sheila had boundless energy, an infectious smile and laugh and put 100 per cent into everything she did. She will be deeply missed.”

Another heartfelt tribute by local Councillor Stephanie Nunn, described the shock felt by everyone at St Nicholas Church.

“I was so sad to learn on Sunday that one of our churchwardens, Sheila Jackson, collapsed and died in St Nicholas Church that morning.

Sheila was always very friendly and caring to everyone. She was a loving mother and grandmother and treated everyone at St Nicholas as part of the family.

She had recently worked particularly hard in helping to coordinate the church’s 90th Anniversary Exhibition, as well as the Anniversary Dinner and Dance.

Nothing seemed to be too much trouble for Sheila. Everyone was treated equally and her lovely smile and kind words will be missed by us all.”

Throughout her life, Sheila devoted herself to caring for others, whether delivering babies, volunteering with St John Ambulance or serving her church and local community. Her compassion, humility and tireless commitment have left an indelible mark on countless lives.

St Nicholas Church has said that details of Sheila’s funeral arrangements will be announced on its Facebook page once confirmed.

May Sheila Jackson rest in peace and rise in glory.