HUNDREDS of mourners came to say farewell to “rough diamond” Jonathan Crow who was stabbed to death at his Birmingham home.
The 42-year-old was said to have been on the brink of overcoming his drug addiction when he was attacked at his Maple Road flat, in Rubery, on March 25.
His friends and family dressed in bright colours in tribute to the popular man.
In between wiping their eyes during a string of moving tributes, they broke into laughter when Salvation Army minister Richard Reynolds told how the colourful character once streaked through Rubery High Street.
Mr Crow’s mother Jana travelled from her home in Spain for the service, held at Redditch Crematorium, yesterday.
Capt Reynolds also described how Mr Crow had made friends with his mother’s neighbours who grew so fond of him they hoped to find “a lovely Spanish senorita to marry so that he could remain”.
In the days after Mr Crow’s death his neighbours had spoken of their shock that the “caring” man, who carried their shopping and walked their dogs, could have been murdered.
Mr Crow’s younger sister Melissa wrote a eulogy which Capt Reynolds read.
It said: “Whenever I was down I could always call my big brother and he would pick me up, even if he was having a bad time himself.
“I think God probably called my brother home because he had run out of dog walkers and people to feed fish in the park.”
Capt Reynolds added: “Jonathan did not have an easy way for a good part of his life, suffering an addiction to illegal drugs.
“In recent years he had made some great advances in his particular battles and we are saddened that he was taken from us just before he made that final victory. All too soon he’s gone.
“A rough diamond is the real thing, a real diamond, something that has all the hallmarks of greatness within and is just waiting for the jeweller to finish and polish.
“Unfortunately Jonathan was taken away while the divine polisher was still at work.
“We could see God at work in Jonathan and that he had magnificent potential and perhaps that’s how we should remember him today – as one of God’s chosen jewels.”
* Gary Martin Dienn, aged 25, of Bromford Drive, has been charged with Mr Crow’s murder and remanded in custody until July.
