Tributes paid to 'lovely' Eastleigh lollipop lady who died

Sharon Malcolm's family have paid tribute to the grandmother after she died suddenly on September 2 at her home aged 59.

Sharon was as a lollipop lady on the corner of Chamberlayne Road, Eastleigh, for thirty years before hanging up her high-vis jacket for good in December 2020.

She was famous for always wearing her high heels while helping children travelling to the nearby Norwood Primary School and had been doing the job since 1990.

On her last day, residents as well as the then-Mayor of Eastleigh, Darshan Mann, were all in attendance to wish Sharon a happy retirement.

The grandmother wanted to spend more time with her husband, David, and her two grandchildren.

READ MORE: Town residents come out in force to say goodbye to their lollipop lady

Sadly, David died after a short illness in October 2021. Sharon kept working part-time on the tills at Tesco Express in the Swan Centre in Eastleigh.

She leaves behind a sister, two daughters and two grandchildren.

Her daughter-in-law Debs Ingram, 60, is married to Sharon's daughter, Kelly, 39.

Debs said her mother-in-law would always be remembered for her fashion taste: “She liked to dress in bright colours and was always dressed glamorously.

“She loved shopping she would go and spend a lot of money on clothes and shoes.”

Sharon Malcolm (Image: Debs Ingram)

She added: “She was so passionate to make sure the children were safe, there were generations of families that she helped cross the road.”

Debs said the family were grateful for all the messages of condolence that had poured in since Sharon's death.

She said: “We have had lovely messages of support on Facebook, really nice messages since the day she died saying that she was lovely and that she will be missed. It’s so kind of people.”

Sharon’s funeral will be at 11am on October 6, at Wessex Vale Crematorium. It will be followed by a wake at Eastleigh football club that people who knew Sharon are encouraged to attend.