Mrs. Florence Ajoke Babarinsa was born in Lagos on the 21st of March, 1928 to the family of Late Pa Albert Ekundayo Ogunlaiye and Late Ma Florence Abiodun Ogunlaiye nee Johnson of Olowogbowo, Lagos and ‘Agbole Mobi’ in Badagry.
She was brought up in a strict Christian home where the virtues of hard work, honesty, kindness and contentment were inculcated in the children at very early ages; and these were her guiding principles till her passing on.
She started her Primary education at Aroloya School, Lagos but had to break when she traveled up north to Zaria with her auntie, Mrs. Beckley (Mama Okeodo). Although she stayed only for a short time in the north, she picked up the Hausa language fluently. Thereafter she returned to Lagos to complete her primary education at the Princess school, Lagos. She gained admission into the prestigious Queen’s College, Lagos for her secondary education.
Her choice of a career as a seamstress was largely influenced by the fact that her late mother was a noted seamstress in her day. She had a flair for designing and was gifted with creativity, thus she was successful with a large clientele. The demands for her unique designs encouraged her to open a boutique of her own – Jok’s Fashion House – where she mainly carried her own line of indigenously designed and sown clothing. This was so successful that she became a supplier of adult and children’s clothing to the big departmental stores of those days like UTC Stores, Leventis, Banuso Stores etc.
Her love for people and interest in her environment led her to veer into community activities with her playing an active role in the formation of the Women’s Association of Home Gardening and Farming under the chairperson of the then governor of Lagos State
A loving and caring mother, her life was spent in seeing to the wellbeing of her children and that they have the best opportunities in life. Ever elegant and stylish, Granny carried herself with dignity till the end. She was blessed with six children, many grandchildren and great grandchildren.