Still, I can’t believe you were taken away from us. We will miss you, but your spirit and strength, lives on in each of us.
Gmamz as we fondly called her: Beautiful, Graceful, full of life, and a fashionista. She loved God and loved to live life to the fullest. She truly lived a happy and fulfilled life.
Gmama… full of love, strength, wisdom, and touched so many with the beauty of her soul.
A God-fearing Woman
I grew up seeing my Grandmother pray endlessly every morning and night. She taught us to keep vigils and fast. My first fast experience was at the age of 6 and trust her to ensure no one ate until 6pm that day. For her it wasn’t just about learning how to stay hungry but the importance of making a sacrifice and going the extra mile in our journey with God. One of my favorite childhood memories was her Friday House fellowships. It was just beyond the prayers and Friday gatherings for Gmamz. For her, it was about reaching out and building a community of people with common faith. She invited everyone around the community, a lot of those who have become family today. Those were exciting times for us as children because we knew at the end of the meeting, Gmamz distributed snacks and drinks afterwards. It was always a feast every Friday evening.
Above all, we grew up seeing her support each and every one of these families involved; when she had exhausted what she had she always had a way to get my mother to draw these people closer and support them including their children. As a matter of fact, my mum’s school (Queensland) became the way to support their children with free education. This was what she loved doing and she did it relentlessly.
As a child of God, she accepted Christ at an early age and let His Word guide her life. Her demeanor was constantly pleasant with a smile that could cause someone else to smile and feel happier just being in her presence. G mamz was kindhearted and she was a giver to a fault; always pouring too much love. This she made sure she instilled in her children, grandchildren and even her great grandchildren. She taught us to give without expecting more from others.
Like she fondly said “The takers may eat better, but The Givers sleep better at night.”
She was strong and smart
Gmamz worked hard, and prayed hard for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In our eyes, Gmamz was the strongest woman that ever existed. She never fell ill for a day, a character everyone around her can testify to. We would always “catch trips” with her because when she wasn’t really ill, and she just had a mild headache she would always want to go to the hospital for a visit to her Indian doctor or to Dr. Isiaku (her close friend and favourite Doctor).
Till her passing days, Gmamz could run up a flight of stairs without losing her breath, and she grew stronger and stronger every day.
I will never forget your kind words and endless conversations.
Whenever life just decides to throw me a couple of curveballs and I start to think negatively about life, you always knew the right things to say and it all ended with prayers. I am going to miss our conversations. How we could cover such a broad range of topics in a single conversation is beyond me. You were never just ‘my grandmother’, but my Guardian, my first friend and my inspiration.
Gmamz would call to pray endlessly giving you the assurance that all is well. Like she will fondly say “enikeni to ba ni Olorun ko si aburu to le se le si “and after God it was really my Grandma. She made us fearless; fearless of anyone and anything as long as you had God.
Gmamz worked hard, and she prayed hard for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We are happy today because you instilled all these values in us and whilst you were here with us, we were able to prove this to you. You taught us the way of truth. You taught us love; unconditional love; you taught us patience and resilience. Alot of the things that has made us successful in our various endeavours.
You loved your children, grandchildren, and your great grandchildren unconditionally.
Gmamz loved her children, grandchildren and even more her great grandchildren. I have always adored how much she loved her family, and to be honest that will forever stick to me and has inspired me to have that kind of love.
She taught us all that we know today, and she was a best friend to all her grandchildren; she was the first mother we all knew as my mum had to get on with going back to work immediately after childbirth. She loved us, took care of all of us and sacrificed her later years to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Gmamz loved her grandchildren so dearly and she loved everyone around us whether it was a friend, husband, wife, work colleague, business partner; name it: just anyone we said to her was important to our lives. She knew each and every one even by their names, she even knew the story behind every friend (LOL)and She loved everyone unconditionally. She grew so fondly of them especially the Adesoye and Queensland Connect that she became an Adesoye MUM and a Queensland MUM. Everyone knew her and loved her.
She was there through each and every milestone of our lives; at every open day in nursery school up until our half term breaks in England. She never missed a school meeting, an open day or a school holiday and trust her to always come prepared with gifts and food. I remember summer holidays and half term breaks in England; Especially with my 3 older brothers who had to go to England for school back to back. Stanmore became a home to every Nigerian child in London. Everyone knew we had the coolest Grandmother because she accommodated everyone; she cooked for days and would go the extra mile to give advice on the importance of remaining focused in life. I grew up with everyone asking if I was Akin, Segun or Femi’s sister from Stanmore (the little girl from Stanmore or Adesoye Visiting days..LOL). Everyone knew her and loved her.
She demonstrated how to handle motherhood with grace and ease; she exuded level-headed competence and grace that amazes me to this day because she never saw it as a chore. She enjoyed what she loved Doing most; taking care of her Grandchildren.
As I look at my journey into motherhood, I am even more in awe of how she not only managed but thrived in her role as a mother to two children, 6 grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren.
Gmamz was a true legend. Abiyamo tootoo
You believed in Us {Our pillar of Support}
You never for once doubted our abilities. Your Grandchildren were perfect in your eyes and we could do no wrong. I remember moving back to Nigeria and not knowing the next steps as regards taking up a job or helping out with the Family business. We sat down in her room on that faithful day in 2013 where she explained how much it meant to be a pillar of support to our mother more so as the first girl in the family : In her words “no matter how much any company had to offer, this is really where God wants you to be”. I remember going back and forth with her on that day quoting figures and calculating how much I could be cashing out monthly. Then she smiled and explained the true meaning of the saying “Little drops of water make the mighty ocean”; the importance of the little sacrifices we make today and how she sacrificed it all for her children, and everyone around her and the testimonies that followed thereafter.
Whenever I was faced with any challenge, she was the problem solver for everything. She had the M.O to it all!!!
She supported us the whole way even with our mum. Growing up with Mum was almost like a scene from a horror movie,(LOL) Mum is a disciplinarian to the core and I remember our GMamz being the only saving grace you had then to getting a few less lashes. She had an explanation to wiggle our way around getting the initial punishment my mum had planned for us.
She was the bridge between us and Mum. She got involved to settle any quarrels we had, and she was really the only one who could calm our spirits; it was as though she had an antidote to everyone’s issues.
You were loved by many.
From your family and friends, the church and the various communities you lived in, and with the people that you’ve built friendships with, sure will miss you. Everyone knew who you were and they have said nothing but good things about you. So no matter what, we are lucky.
Your exit has taught us even more to find peace with everyone, and to keep celebrating the people in our lives. We are happy that you found peace before you left the world and to those of us here; that is our greatest testimony.
Gmamzzz…. You are now free, and at peace. You are not bound by the confines of the world anymore, and you are free to continue to laugh, move, dance, and play in ways you loved doing.
Rest well Abiyamo too too…… My Guardian, My Friend and My Mentor.
Your beloved Granddaughter, Flakey
FOLAKEMI OKUNOREN