Hundreds of relatives have attended the funeral of a 31-year-old former chip shop worker who died suddenly - including her 137 uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Relatives say 'one-of-a-kind' Sammy-Jo Price was a member of 'one of the biggest families in Stoke-on-Trent'.
Her pink coffin was transported to this morning's service on a pink horse-drawn carriage. The horses went from Sammy-Jo's home in Lyndhurst Street, Middleport, to St Joseph’s RC Church, in Goldenhill, during an hour-long procession.
The coffin was carried into the church by her half-brother Harry Price as well as cousins Doug Price, Alex Price, Jason Price, Nathan Price, Jimmy Evans and Robert Evans. They all wore pink ties in honour of her favourite colour.
Mourners were asked by Sammy-Jo’s family to wear pink to the funeral as Sammy-Jo was a ‘girly girl’ who often wore pink. Pink bows were made for guests to wear. Floral tributes accompanying the coffin included a black and white handbag filled with make-up, the gates to heaven and an angel.
The service was conducted by Father Julian Green and included hymns All Things Bright and Beautiful, Walk with Me’ and ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’.
Uncle Mushy Price, aged 47, who travelled from Wiltshire for today's funeral, said: “It’s nice that so many people have turned up today. All of the guests are wearing pink. She was carried into church by her half-brother and
cousins who all wore pink ties as that was her favourite colour.
“We are one of the biggest families in Stoke-on-Trent and Sammy-Jo has 137 uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and cousins who are all here today. Some have travelled from as far as Scotland to be here.
“The more people that come to the funeral the more respected that person was and a lot of people have come today.
“Sammy-Jo was so young and I was so shocked when she died. It should be us as the older ones who are going not the young ones. She was still a child to us.
“It’s so good of everyone to wear pink because that was her thing, she loved it. She was a real girly girl. She loved clothes and make-up.”
Paramedics were unable to revive Sammy-Jo after she suffered a cardiac arrest at her friend's Middleport home on January 28. She was discovered by her mum - Queenie Green - who raised the alarm.
The former Brownhills High School pupil previously worked in Captain Kooks chip shop, in Cobridge, before being forced to give up work when she was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 20.
One of Sammy-Jo’s best friends, Jermaine Bloor, was at today' service. The 35-year-old, of Milton, said: “There’s been so much support from everyone for the family. I’ve known Sammy-Jo since we were 14 and there was nobody else like her. She was one-of-a-kind.
“She would have loved the horse-drawn carriage because it’s pink. I’ve worn a pink tie because pink was her favourite colour. It’s great that everyone has worn pink because it’s what she would have wanted. I think we’ve done her proud today.”
Family friend Ros Baish, aged 48, from Fenton, added: “They’ve done her proud today. The horses are absolutely amazing. I’ve known Sammy-Jo for 15 years and she would have loved everyone wearing pink, she’d be very proud.
“She was always respectful towards us. I was devastated by her passing, someone so young.”
Donations are being raised in memory of Sammy-Jo for Blurton-based Douglas Macmillan Hospice. The wake was this afternoon taking place at Vale Park.
