Uncle Abraham is a brother to my mother Caroline Naa Odoley Akrong which makes me his nephew. It was in the summer of 1997 when I migrated to the United kingdom and lived under the same roof with Uncle Abraham and his dearly beloved wife Maa Kwarley Eunice in Dagenham, Essex who will become the trial blazer, the path finder and the pace setter in my life.
From the very beginning, auntie Eunice took me as her own. The bond was soo deep and she continuedly demonstrated necessary love. I followed them to many Amway meetings where I learnt a lot about networking and entrepreneurial ideas. I was young and had my fair share of juvenile truancy and its consequences that followed but auntie Eunice being the driving force in my family was never judgmental and never abandoned me but always loving and caring.
I wondered where she got her attributes from as I had never experience such love affection and tolerance from anyone other than my biological mother Caroline Akrong. After running away from home for nearly 1 year, she was a passenger of my uncle as they drove along the Clapham high road in south London and she spotted me coming out from a Sunday afternoon church service. She identified me instantly and asked uncle to pull over because she had seen Charles. I was taken by surprise because earlier, I had absconded in search for an alternative path which taught me a lot of lessons. That moment was actually a turning point in my life. She never lost sight of me and has played a vital roll in my life and that of my family.
Because of her compelling nature, she became the grandmother to all my children: Naa Ayeley, Nii Oblie and Naa Ayokor. Auntie Eunice was a mother to my wife Lady Beatrice Manesse Armah. She was in the heart of my family. She will speak with my wife for hours upon hours upon hours nonstop. They both developed great sense of trust and loyalty as they shared issues that bothered them but auntie Eunice always come out on top with the best way forward. During birthdates, school meetings, anniversaries and to mention but just a few, she will be there.
She comes around with so much energy, grace and tender looking eyes. She gives the best advice ever and she will go a long way to search and find the best solution to every challenge that she is made aware of. She was the light in our tunnel and that light keeps shinning.
All my children developed intimacy with her. She will always check on her grandchildren and ensure they are always happy. She loved them and always cared for them. One day, our electrical gadgets in the house went off due to electrical appliance fault. We were surprised and in awe when within days she had placed order of new sets of electrical appliances all paid for. What a gran, and what a wonderful woman to the world of those who got to know her? You are and will always be the granny of my children and an auntie we can never replace.
My message to my uncle Abraham is to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. The first book I read in London was authored by Susan Jeffers ''FEEL THE FEAR BUT DO IT ANYWAY''. It has helped me go through many struggles of my personal life. Today, as I drop my tributes to auntie, I pray that you feel the fear of the greatest loss of your life and be strengthened by the words of the gift you gave me.
MAA KWALEY EUNICE MARIE WRIGHT QUARTEY
THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU. SLEEP WELL IN THE COMFORT OF THE ARMS OF OUR LORD TILL WE ALL MEET AGAIN IN HEAVEN.
