Family & Kids
I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Tim 4:7-8).
I still have fresh memories of that gentle voice of yours that spoke to me on that fateful day, Wednesday, the 16th day of February 2022. You asked me to come and âtake you home.â Little did I realize that like the Apostle Paul your time to transition into glory had come. Your call to glory has not only created a vacuum at home, but as we know, one of the great pillars of the family has fallen. This resonates with a popular Akan proverb that says, âWo Maame wu a, na wâabusua asa.â Indeed, the past four months has been painful since you kissed the cup of death and like the Akan proverb it feels like my life has ended abruptly. However, I have a cause to celebrate your call to glory because I am a living testimony of the wonderful children you have nurtured. I can testify of the quality of life you groomed me to have; you gave me life that is worth living. You raised me in the fear and the knowledge of God.
You loved me and my siblings, and you did everything for us, except condone evil in our lives. You were a strong disciplinarian to the core without a shadow of doubt. As a beacon of wisdom, you were the mother with whom I consulted on every issue, a day never passed without a telephone call from you. Such a great pillar you were, and I found solace leaning on you. You loved to see us attain greater heights in formal education, thus you gave us your very best support. Though your educational level was only up to middle school form four, you taught and helped me with my maths lessons even up to secondary school form three, something that was unique, unimaginable, and meant a lot to me.
As the oldest of my siblings, you did not want me to be pampered but rather you taught me the value of hard work and being a good example for my younger siblings. Such virtues have prepared me for a position of glory as the Minister of the Gospel which you so generously and affectionately bestowed on me. Even as a married man and a minister of the gospel, you continued to provide for me the nuggets of wisdom, support, direction, and advice. I can recall your presence in every sphere of my influence; in times of joy, fulfilment, moments of sorrow and frustration especially when one of my sons was brutally murdered in London, you were there for me in such a lowly point in my life. By your counsel and prayers, my faith was strengthened in the Lord. There are several things in life that can hardly be replaced. I have lost that which cannot be replaced. I have lost the mother who gave me life through the knowledge of Christ. You were not just my mother; you were also a mother to many others. With your passing away, many have lost a mother of a worthy example. To me you are irreplaceable. You have been my rudder and my guide; the mother of all mothers. Without you, life will never be the same again for me.
You made me proud by the example you set, and you gave me confidence by your very presence. It gave me immense pleasure to observe the very easy relationship that you struck with all people, especially the insignificant and the poor. I shall miss you every day of my life. I recall vividly, particularly in the early 70âs when my dad passed on. At the time, I was the only person among my siblings at secondary school. I was confused as to whether my education will come to an end. So, I came to you and sat on your bed one early morning to inquire whether I was still going to continue my secondary school education. I asked how you will be able to afford my secondary school fees and still feed my other six siblings as well with that meagre salary from your work as telephonist at the P&T. You just tapped me on the shoulder and gently whispered with tears in your eyes that the good Lord will provide. Since then, I learned, that God can provide our very needs no matter how far it is out of our reach, because it is within His reach! You made it a point to phone me every morning and when Iâm out of town you will text and send me messages each morning, you were a loving mother indeed. I am also forever grateful to you for my business life as well, you were always interested in the various business ventures that I wanted to embark on, and you never hesitated to give me directions and advice in those areas.
For all these, I thank you with a deep sense of gratitude. You always taught me to be the unifying force that will bring my siblings together and you showed me by practically means how you had been achieving this through the love you showed your siblings as well. Now I can navigate through life with the firm foundation youâve laid and the impeccable guidance you set in motion, support, and your flawless directions. I can frankly, with your nurturing and directions say that Iâm now fully equipped through your efforts and the grace of God to do what you asked me to do, and I promise to do it because of the memory of your love for me and in recognition of the wonderful examples that you have set by your life. I am exceedingly grateful for the long life that God granted you and for the many good deeds you allowed yourself to be used to do, for me and for many others. I shall never forget what you represented and all that you did for me and for my family. I also thank you for the motherly love that you gave to the people who came to live with us, from Adum, Amakom and Ahinsan Estate. I shall do my best to remain true to God, your advice, and live by your words of wisdom, love, Godly advice, and examples.
I shall also love you for the rest of my life, and neither forget nor ignore your many words of advice and the example of your life. I thank you for your many good works in the Lord, and for your shining example. Finally, be assured that your God will remain my God!Â
Grandma Rest in Peace, Auntie Goodnews, Yoonko, Agyeiwa Kodee, Nante Yie.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Tim 4:7-8).
My mom has always been my inspiration.
Her top-notch advice has helped me a lot.
She was a strong and a very determined woman and, she used to tell me:
âEsther whenever you are doing something and you get tired,stop and rest.â
She led my children to God and she loved and treated them as though they were her children. She was a mother to them. Her
manifold counsel was monumental.
My husband was like a son to her. Her response to our needs was exceptional.
I really appreciate the love she showed me and my family. Grandma, as affectionately called by all, you fought a good fight.
Rest well mom till we meet again.
It broke our hearts to lose you, but you did not go alone. Part of us went with you, the day god took you home. If tears could build a stair way and heartache could make a lane, weâd walk our way to heaven and bring you back again. In life we loved you dearly, in death we still love you, in our hearts you hold a place no one else could fill. Those we love do not go away, they walk besides us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near us, in our hearts, so loved, so missed, so very dear to us all.
Please give me grace as I struggle through my thoughts and ideas and try to articulate what an amazing woman my mom was. She showered us with love and gave us the world and more. We will miss her as we hold her close to our hearts and let her have the rest that she truly deserves.Â
Dear Mother,
It is impossible to express my feelings and sadness over your passing mother, a person of a deep well of moral principle, a great mother with humor, who was talented with leadership and laughter, a sound and precise coach, and a woman of firm conviction, and faith, a mother of all. A classy well-cultured lady respected by society. A true model whose beauty shines from coast to coast. I grew up calling you Auntie as everyone else, and then you became Auntie good news, then grandma.
I called you Yaaâonko at times, but we evolved as friends over the last two decades when I became a self-proclaimed dad of yours when I started addressing you as âAgyeiwa.â Indeed, I have not just lost a mother but a very close friend. One that called every morning and made me laugh. Agyeiwa, you gave me your all, and I am grateful. Looking back, we didnât just become friends at a late age; I remember us both being members of the Ramseyer womenâs fellowship when I was in elementary school, and how can I forget how all the members of the womenâs fellowship adored and treated me. That tells me they knew I meant the world to you.
Your prophecy has come true because I cannot stop crying. Anytime I start to write this tribute, my emotions get in the way, and tears run down like a river. I am grateful for 87 years of a good life, but I wish I could hold you one more time. I LOVE YOU, GRANDMA. As a child, I felt you were too strict. I remember I once found a ten cedi note on the field at Amankwatia, and you made me take it back only to see another person grab it. The countless times you told me my underarm smelled like a vulture taught me serious personal hygiene. When I meet people with body odor or bad breath, I thank God for a mother like you. I love you dearly. For a fact, you didnât have money, but you had high integrity and good morals when we were growing up; I remember when you financed a refrigerator for sixty cedis primarily because of me. Because of your impeccable leadership, I never felt we were poor; I considered myself a son of a rich widow: What a mother; I LOVE YOU, GRANDMA. You always coached me with sound advice and guidance when they were needed.
I know we loved each other unconditionally, and the dates and times I recorded on your bedroom wall are testaments that we never had enough of each other; I wish I could touch your soft hair one more time. You were correct when you said in multiple videos that I will cry the most when you pass on, even though you had mentally prepared me; I only wish I could see you one more time, kiss you the last time, and tickle your feet so you can attempt to hit me with your walking stick. Sometimes I wish I could take your place in death so you can continue to live life and affect change on this earth. We will keep the candle burning, but there is only one… âYou.â You never slept past 4:30 in the morning, always got up to get things done before others would wake up because âwompes3 ewiase betwam agya wo.â I have become your copycat.
You were always a peacemaker and hated unnecessary arguments; I do that now and disregard the ignorant. I can define and call you so many names…..endless love, mother of all, Ms. Integrity, beautiful grandma, peacemaker, the number one chef, magic woman, life coach, and a leader. Even as you aged, you taught us to live righteous lives with humor, dignity, and kindness. You were so genuinely optimistic that you knew in your heart that your back and legs would be strong again for you to walk to church and dance to your favorite hymns. You always valued character over pedigree. You taught me the importance of faith and family. I definitely tested your patience many times, and you responded with unconditional love each time. As a teenage boy, I used to eat like a horse and wanted more. However, you would always find a way to satisfy me. When I once told you to be smart and save your taxi fares to buy a car, you were never upset, but you told your friends and encouraged me to save up my own money to buy a car which some of your friends to date ask about. I always felt above the clouds because you had always been the wind beneath my wings. As much as I have cried in my grief, I am thankful to God for the many blessings, 87 years of a good life, your teachings, humor, sarcasm, and laughter even during your last days brought us.
You left this world better than you found it. Your impact on life and the many souls you touched is astounding. The Auntie Agyeiwa in her indeed came out now and then when she disagreed with you. She would never hold back any punch but speak her mind freely and look through you with her glazing fiery brown eyes that will tell you all but bear no grudge. When the history books are finally written, you will be one of the latterday saints I have personally known. Rest well till we meet on the other side. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, GRANDMA.
Mother you were the truest friend to me more than a mother. I called you Theo to mean a friend and a sister. Theo you really heard Gods whisper, calling you home, you did not want to leave because of the love for your children, you held on tight until all your strength was gone and you could no longer hold on. Finally you gave your hand to God and slipped away quietly without saying bye. You were sick for just two weeks asking that your children come around.
The very first question when I came to greet you in the morning was ââboys no w) heââ? Little did I believe you were saying bye bye to us. My experience and interaction with you on your departure bed has really strengthen my faith. Obaa Yaa, Theo as I affectionately call you it is difficult to grieve over your departure because I know you are resting well in the arms of the almighty. Nene, Tetteh and Daale say they wish you live longer so you can provide their children with Bible when they are born as well as their daily devotional notes but because God has the greatest power they wish you well as you journey on to your maker.
Theo thank you for every word and caution during the last 2 weeks with you I will abide by every word you spoke as if you were joking. My consolation is in the fact that whenever you called me to sing with you I could see the joy as if the heavens were opened Yaa there is no doubt you are in heaven with your maker.
Obaa Yaa Donkor Damirifa due!
Yaa Agyeiwaa Due ne amanehunu
Theo nyame mfa wo kra nsie
Da yie! Da yie!! Da yie!!!
Da bi yebehyiamu.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Maame, you lived your life with a passion for love and acceptance of all people. I am so grateful to have had you as such an incredible example of kindness, honesty, and strength. Maame you raised me, taught me to be respectful, obedient, kind, strong, hard working,and always remember my creator, and that has been my guiding principle to date. You continued to guide and loved me unconditionally even in my adulthood. Maame your unconditional love extended to everyone you encountered, a true demonstration of your strong Godly christian values. No more words can describe how important, impactful, and influential you were to me. Maame, I pray that the good Lord will keep your soul at a restful and peaceful place until we meet again.
Maame DueÂ
Maame Da yie
