Island friends are saddened by the death of a popular personality.

Julia Margaret Baker died in her home at Davie Court, Sheerness, after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Her sister Delphine Williams and friend David Hughes went to the second floor flat and found her on the floor still in her dressing gown.

They had raised concerns as she hadn’t phoned either of them from the previous day.

Julia, who was 66, lived alone and it was a regular habit to phone daily.

She was a familiar figure in the town, ever smiling and stopping to chat to people.

She knew so many by first names and never failed to inquire about them and their families.

At Strode Crescent Baptist Church, Sheerness, she was a welcomed member of the congregation and made many friends.

Until her mother’s death 10 years ago, she had lived in the family home in Thames Avenue.

Since then, Delphine had cared for her while still allowing her independence to attend art classes and to sing in a choir.

Her happiest times were “days out” locally and she had also enjoyed holidays in Jersey and Spain.

As a child she attended the Airdale and Santa Maria schools where she showed a talent for drawing and an eye for colour.

Her academic progress was slow, due in part to periods in hospital, but her warm hearted and compassionate nature carried her through. She leaves Delphine, brothers Richard and Geoffrey and their families.

The committal is at the Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing, at noon on March 4, followed by a service and wake at Strode Crescent Baptist Church at 1.30pm.