Give me the wings of faith to rise

Within the veil and see, 

The saints above, how great their joys

How bright their glories be.

V3. I ask them whence their victory came

They with United breath. Ascribe their conquest to the lamb.

Their triumph to his death.

Woke up with this song and it so soothing.

It talks to the Joy's of the departed beyond the veil and their Joy's unbeknownst to us.

Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved."

"It's not how strong you are , but how firm your footing is."

These two quotes of Clive Ollies, from Goodreads 2018, depict the uncertainty of life as we march on. A few brave ones have joined the throng of the upward call since October 7th 2015. So we cannot complain much but celebrate her life ad infinitum.

Two years down the line on October 7th 2017,

We gathered as a family to remember Effie,

Mother, sister in-law, auntie and wife.

Down in Johannesburg where you breathed your last.

We do not think of her lying in some remote graveyard in Achimota.

We see the real you breezing among the "daffodils"

on your way to heaven's choir practice.

Of course, you sung most of the Methodist hymns

But in heaven perfection, absolute melody, is called for.

So practise on Bondzash our PSI.

Commemorating a year of her demise.

Sphinxes, pyramids, mausoleum, tombs all have been erected in various parts of the world to remember the lives of the departed.

So in December 2016, it was our turn to do likewise. The many holidays in December left  us with fewer working days to erect a memorial. But we were determined; a year’s remembrance must be celebrated; It had to be done. For she would have raced to the North Pole to get it done if the roles were reversed.

Fortunately, God opened doors, the Rev ministers were willing despite it being a Saturday for the unveiling of the tombstone. Family and friends equally were ready and WGHS 1970 group in particular rose to the occasion. To all who joined to make the event  a memorable one the family doffs its cap to you all.

Dec  31, 2016.

A  candle to your memory 2016

Here are our roses to your memory

And a candle to light your path

The red roses may wither

The bulky candle burn out

But your smile still endears us.

Our black garments of mourning

Are giving way to shades of white

We try to put a smile on our faces

As we remember you

A year on as you closed your eyes.

-Revkay 2016

Passing away in another country often requires rites to be done in duplicate.

The first of the memorial service for her was held on the 31st October, in Johannesburg, where she used to be a regular worshipper on her past visits. About one hundred friends and loved ones turned up on a rather warm afternoon which suddenly was cooled by a short drizzle. The sympathizers were a mix of Wits university academics, a large ghanaian community and friends from Bethesda Fellowship Centre ( a Full gospel church of God in Southern Africa).

From the traditional perspective the rain was seen as a good omen. Good souls do not die they live in the hearts of men and women.

How did a bald and bearded Jesus freak win the heart of an Efutu princess?

The setting was at Winnneba Secondary and my dear friend Beatrice Wilson (of blessed memory) was the matchmaker. A good match it was, the year, 1979.

And the rest they say is history.