TRIBUTES TO A CARING DADDY
MY CARING AND LOVING DADDY!!!
Daddy loved and was extremely proud of his wife, children and family . He was always the glow in our family . His demise was really sudden and painful , but in all things , we give thanks to God . And so , I am grateful that i came to this world through you Sir!.
I am extremely proud and arrogant that you were my father.
This memorial tribute was put down to express my love and loss of a dear father, CHIEF JACOB TAIWO ISRAEL BABATOLA (JP) 84 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AND 3 DAYS AT THE POINT OF DEPARTURE TO GLORY ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2013!
I will remember you forever.
Daddy was born at Abeokuta, Ogun State, on October 10th, 1928 to Daniel Akanbi and Solabomi Alice Babatola.
Daddy had a big heart, he lived for his family. He loved and cherished them and strove to provide the best for them. He treasured FORMAL EDUCATION to a fault, perhaps because, he was denied having this fulfilment as a result of the early demise of his parents, before he clocked Ten years!
He was the best dad, confidant and mentor to my Brothers Olusegun and Olutosin and our late brother Mr Folorunso Babatola (RIP), my Sisters Olubunmi, His Mom/Daughter, Olukemi, Mofoluwaso and my humble self, Oluwafunmilayo.
He was our Mother's strength and devoted partner.
For Mom, the pain of your departure is infinite!!!
Daddy was extremely industrious. He was constantly reinventing his businesses and deploying totality of his energy (physical and cerebral) to adapt to the changing times.
He constantly sorted out new opportunities and was always willing to take on new risks and challenges in business.
Daddy loved God and took delight in evangelism, especially to remote villages!!!
He also loved to take up for free, opportunities relating to construction management for the church, family and acquintances.
He could not tolerate idleness and laziness. Always doing something productive in creative ways, using extreme scarce resources to bring about the best of results!!!.
Daddy surprisingly was an excellent home maker, great with instilling/impacting the right virtues on children/youth, to the point of becoming a reference for re-modelling difficult and wayward children within the community.
He was however intolerant of fools, lazy, dishonest, immoral and ungodly people!
Above all, Daddy loved his family. He wanted to spend every waking second with them. Always a delight to hear his bosterous voice on the phone, his counsel and seeing him express uneding gratitude even for little favours. He loved to travel and he loved to be productively engaged all the time.
Daddy was a very loving, attentive, involved and present husband and father.
I am eternally grateful for all the time we spent together.
He was a good friend to the friends and church associates that he had. He had penchant to keep friends for long periods. He was revered by friends and foes alike. As he was always forthright and bold with the truth and right counsel!
Daddy loved God and had given his life to Christ. He was a founding member (and the last to depart) of All Saints' Church (Anglican Communion), Ilaro, Ogun State.
Daddy will forever be remembered with great fondness and love by his wife, children and family.
He will be missed by the several god-children he raised and trained. His old friends/trainees such as Baba Sikira, Brother Moses, Olorunlogbon, his in-law, the Akinosis and many many friends and extended family.
Daddy was sadly preceded in death by his close younger brother Mr Timothy Babatola. It is noteworthy to mention that all the departed family members of Daddy, left on a Sunday! The father, mother, sister, brother and nephew!!!
For the records, His favourite hymn was: "Igbagbo mi duro lori, eje at'ododo Jesu..."
Favourite chorus was "Kosoro, rara kosoro..."
Favourite prayer was "Olorun irawo owuro mi, mo juba re lojo oni..."
Favourite psalm was "psalm 27" Oluwa ni imole mi ati igbala mi..."
HIS CATCHY PHRASES WERE :
Bekebeeke ikun
Konko konko atari
A baya re
Okunri
ALL GLORY TO GOD!