Friends reveal George Michael will ‘be buried beside his beloved mother’ in family’s private plot in Highgate Cemetery
The Wham! singer, who died on Christmas Day, bought a grave for his mum in Highgate Cemetery when she passed away in 1997
GEORGE Michael hoped to be laid to rest beside his beloved mother in the family’s private burial plot, The Sun understands.
The singer, who died on Christmas Day, bought a family grave for mum Lesley at Highgate, North London, in 1997.
A source said of them being together: “It’s what he would have wanted.”
His friends and family told how the star was now “finally at rest with his mum”.
The 53-year-old former Wham! frontman was devastated by the loss of mother Lesley Panayiotou to cancer in 1997.
Katerina Pourikou, sister of George’s former best pal Andros Georgiou, said: “We grew up together.
“It has been really hard. I knew he hadn’t been very well but none of us know what happened.
“Everyone in the family is struggling to take it in but at least he is finally at rest with his mum now.”
Sources close to George say he talked of wanting to be buried in a plot alongside Lesley at Highgate Cemetery, near his North London home.
A friend explained: “George’s love for his mother remained as strong as it had always been, and he always said he hoped he would be able to be with her again.”
An insider at the cemetery added: “George Michael’s family have a private plot where his mother is buried — and there is currently space within it for further burials.”
In a statement released last night, George’s publicist said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death from heart failure at his home in Goring, Oxfordshire.
As fans continued to lay flowers and messages at that house and his mansion in Highgate, his family issued a statement thanking George’s legion of fans.
The statement said: “The family and close friends of George have been touched beyond words by the incredible outpouring of love for him in the hours and days since his death.
“For someone whose life was ultimately about his music and the love he had for his family and friends, his fans and the world at large, there could be no more fitting tribute than the many kind words that have been said and the numerous plays his records have received.
“Contrary to some reports, there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, and from the bottom of our hearts we thank those who, rightly, have chosen to celebrate his life and legacy at this most distressing of times.”
Outside George’s North London home yesterday, fans scrawled messages of love on his grey Range Rover parked outside the mansion.
Fans also spoke of him being a huge inspiration to the gay community.
Mark Collins, 56, a civil servant, said: “There was speculation of his sexuality before he came out. I was very happy and relieved for him when he did come out.
“The 80s were a difficult time to be gay in and I understand why he waited. I felt relieved for him.”
Debbie Gray, 42, travelled to Goring from Camberley, Surrey, to lay flowers with her 11-year-old daughter Hannah and wept as she placed them on the ground.
She said: “He was my hero while I was growing up, my bedroom used to be covered with posters of him.
“He was a big part of my growing up and it’s so sad he’s gone. I was so shocked, just numb when I heard the news.
“I was eight years old when I first heard him on Top of the Pops and I’ve loved him ever since.”
Meanwhile, it is still unclear how George’s £100million fortune will be divided up. It is thought his partner Fadi Fawaz, 43, and ex-lover Kenny Goss, 58, will both get a share.
His godchildren, Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp’s kids Roman and Harley, may get a share, as well as the children of Andros Georgiou.
George always referred to Andros as his cousin but in fact the two were unrelated best friends until they fell out over George’s lewd behaviour arrest in 1998.
Geri Halliwell’s daughter Bluebell may also inherit from the superstar as Kenny Goss is her godfather.
George was a long-term supporter of a number of charities including Childline, the Terrence Higgins Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support who are set to benefit from donations from his estate.
Actress Debbie Killingback, who played George’s girlfriend in Wham’s Last Christmas video, joined those paying tribute.
Debbie was 19 when she flew to Saas-Fee, Switzerland, to play his love interest in the festive classic.
Now 51, she said: “He was just lovely, normal and down to earth. He was fun and liked to laugh.
“I was actually a Go West fan at the time which he wasn’t too happy about, but after Last Christmas, I became a Wham! fan.
“I sent in my tapes and I was the smallest actress who auditioned, but he saw them and gave me the part.
“I played George’s current girlfriend, but of course he really loved his ex. The other people in the video were all his friends.
“It was four days of filming but it was intense, we worked 16-hour days. We had a few drinks on a night in but George was very good.”
Debbie last saw George 15 years ago in a restaurant and said: “I just couldn’t believe the news when my husband texted me. He was such a wonderful artist and lyricist. It’s just such a loss.”
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