Georgia Williams' funeral: Wellington must 'rediscover its soul', says vicar
[gallery] Wellington in Shropshire has been challenged to "rediscover its soul" to make sure the death of teenager Georgia Williams is remembered as a turning point for the better.
Georgia, 17, was laid to rest in a private committal yesterday after an emotional funeral service attended by hundreds of mourners.
Hundreds more listened outside All Saints' Church, including heartbroken college friends and 150 air cadets who formed a guard of honour.
Reverend Mark Ireland, who led the service, said he hoped the community outpouring of affection for Georgia would continue to help make her home town a better place.
Mr Ireland said: "The great crowd that has turned out today also brings a clear message of hope for the future of Wellington.
"We have seen a town which has had its name tarnished rediscover its soul, as we have come together to declare that evil will not have the last word, and that good will triumph."
The family of Georgia this week revealed the setting up of a charitable trust fund in her name. Mr Ireland said: "The formation of the Trust will ensure that Georgia's life leaves a legacy of good for the young people of this town for years to come.
"Today is not an end, but only a beginning. God is inviting each of us listening today to make a decision before we leave. Will we go back to our own individual lives, or will we choose to work with God and with this community to remake this town of Wellington a better place, a safer place, a more caring place?
"If we respond, then in years to come people will remember Georgia's tragic death as a turning point – a moment of hope, the moment when Wellington rediscovered its soul."
Georgia's body was found in woodland near Wrexham two weeks ago after a nationwide search. She went missing after telling her parents she was staying with friends.
Devastated friends from school, college and her air cadet squadron stood outside after the church, which can hold 450 people, soon filled up with family and close friends. By the time the funeral cortege arrived, about 400 people were gathered on the church green, listening silently through heavy rain showers. During the service young cadets from the squadron Georgia attended stood with their arms around each other before reforming into ranks as Georgia's coffin left the church to begin its final journey.
Georgia's parents, Stephen and Lynnette, and sister Scarlett, had said they wanted the funeral to be a celebration of Georgia's life, and urged mourners to wear bright clothes.
A rainbow of colour greeted the family as they arrived, with turquoise and orange, Georgia's favourite colours, particularly prominent.
Even senior police officers, prevented from wearing bright colours by the need to wear uniform, wore bright flowers in their buttonholes.
The sombre mood was also lifted by two spontaneous outbursts of applause during the service. The first came as local singer-songwriter Dan Crossley finished singing Georgia's Song, a tribute he wrote while the teenager was still missing.
Dan had to fight back the emotion as he started the song before delivering a powerful rendition which held the audience spellbound.
There was also applause from the mourners outside as Geogia's simple wooden coffin, garlanded in blue and white flowers, was brought out of the church.
As the cars left the churchyard, a clearly overwhelmed Mrs Williams mouthed a message to those who had turned out to remember her daughter: "Thank you."
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