TRIBUTES have poured in to an ‘amazing’ former town mayor and district councillor after her funeral service was held on Monday.

Bette Jones died peacefully in Beeches Residential Home in Ixworth on July 25, aged 88.

Mrs Jones has been hailed as a campaigner for peoples’ rights after she twice served as Stowmarket Town Mayor as well as having time as councillor for the town council and Mid Suffolk District Council.

Mrs Jones lived in Bury Street, Stowmarket, for more than 40 years and was a well-known figure in the town for her tireless work with community groups.

Mrs Jones was the beloved wife of the late Eric, who had also been Stowmarket Town Mayor.

Rebecca Colley, Bette’s granddaughter said: “She was always an active lady, you always saw her around Stowmarket.

“The most important thing we got across at the service was how many people she helped in Stowmarket. She stood up for a lot of people in the town.”

Mrs Jones served as chair of governors for Stowmarket Middle School and did charity work for the town’s Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice Bureau.

She was a supporter of the town’s charity, Chest, Heart, Arthritis and Stroke Club with all the donations from the funeral going to the cause.

Linda Bennett, who served as a councillor on Stowmarket Town Council from 1999-2001, said: “It did not matter where you came from, she was very supportive. They would defend anybody’s rights. They were an amazing couple.” Mrs Jones was mother to the late Ian and leaves behind three step children, one grandchild, one step grandchild and three great grandchildren.