HUNDREDS of mourners gathered to celebrate the life of The Jamaican-born receptionist stab victim Carmelita Tulloch yesterday. Brixton Hill came to a virtual standstill as a white horse-drawn carriage decked in floral tributes carried the well-known and much loved 51-year-old to Ruach Ministries where the funeral was held.

Behind, two black stretch Humvees carried her close family and friends and following them was a procession of seven limousines.

Mourners were asked to wear bright, colourful outfits by Mrs Tulloch's family to reflect her happy and outgoing personality.

As grieving mourners went into the church, each was given an order of service to the "celebration and homegoing", showing a smiling Carmelita on the front with the quote: "Lord, you told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way".

Inside were several treasured family snapshots of Mrs Tulloch. In all but one the grandmother had a smile on her face.

A series of tributes and eulogies were read out by family members including her two brothers, Lincoln and Patrick.

Personal tributes were also read by her two daughters, Andrea, 24, and Claudia, 21, along with ex-Mayor of Hackney Medlin Lewis Spencer.

Music played during the service included gospel hymn His Eyes Are On The Sparrow - a favourite of Mrs Tulloch's.

At the end, before her coffin was taken to Lambeth Crematorium, mourners filed to the front of the church, touched the closed casket and whispered, "God go with you, Carmelita".

The crowd was thanked by the family for their support and prayers in the wake of Mrs Tulloch's death and asked to continue praying for them as they "face a future without their beloved mother, grandmother and aunt".

Mrs Tulloch was killed in Wickham Street, Kennington, as she walked to work on the morning of September 5.

The mother of two, who lived on the Ethelred Estate in Kennington, suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck in the frenzied attack.

The Jamaican-born receptionist is survived by her husband, Prince, whom she married on July 17, 2002, and her two daughters.

Prince Tulloch, 42, described his wife as a person he could not help but love.

He said: "She was my wife, my friend, my lover - she was everything to me.She was a loving person who never troubled anyone.

"I've been torn apart. I will never forget this.I wish I could see her just one more time and hold her."

* A 17-year-old has been charged with her murder and is in custody awaiting court proceedings.