Our mother
July 14, 2021
by Akan Antia
On the beautiful day of January 16, 1936, our mum Marcella Josephine Cox was born in Castries St Lucia to parents George and Emelda Cox, they were blessed with nine children, six girls and three boys, our mum was the eldest.
In 1956 mum set sail for the UK to study nursing, where mum started her nursing career in Alder Hey Children Hospital Liverpool. Mum studied and specialized to become a Paediatrics Nurse. Mum also did her midwifery at Sefton General Hospital between 1959 and 1960. By 1960, mum archived her professional qualifications as a State Registered Nurse, State Registered Children’s Nurse and Certified Midwife.
It was during her training mum met our dad who was studying medicine at the time. He specialized in Paediatrics too.
After their studies they got married and moved to the United States where our dad completed his residency program at John Hopkins University.
In the early 1960’s they moved to Nigeria to both embark on their life long careers in Paediatrics at the University College Hospital (UCH). It was here at UCH that Macella dedicated 30 years of her career caring for premature (preemies) babies. Mum loved taking care of them so much, and mum would always come home with exciting stories of each of the babies. Always praying for the babies and their mothers.
During her stint at UCH and as part of her achievements, mum and our dad were part of the leading team to deliver and take care of the first ever conjoined twins in the whole of West Africa. Mum was also part of the War Nurses who took care of wounded soldiers during the civil war in Nigeria.
Mum rose through the ranks from Staff Nurse to Sr. Matron of Paediatrics/Neonatal ward at UCH. This was a great achievement many aspired to attain. Mum retired from UCH in 1990.
On the social front, our mother was a very loving, kind and a God-fearing person. As mentioned earlier, mum had seven children who mum loved dearly and brought us all up to emulate her loving, kind and God-fearing nature.
Mum had a very creative mind, always creating and making things. Mum loved knitting and crocheting, sewing, baking, gardening, painting, and writing poems. Her beautiful paintings of natural landscapes have graced many homes with love. Her poems have been shared with friends and family, with some of them even winning awards and getting publish with the International Society of Poets.
Mum was always teaching church members, neighbours and anyone who wanted to learn these exciting home making skills.
Our mum was a great cook of Caribbean food. Mum also embraced and learned how to cook Nigerian food and delicacies from the local Okro soup to Edikan Ikong (native to our father’s culture).
Our mum was a dedicated and charismatic catholic. Mum belonged to and was the President of the St. Anthony’s Guild of her parish back in Nigeria, and also an active member of St. Vincent De Paul (caring for the poor), The Wednesday Club.
In 1993 our mum returned back to the UK and worked as a Paediatric Nurse for various NHS trust hospitals, mum finally retired again in 2004.
We will miss our mother. Mum brought us into this world, and mum helped to make us what we are today. It's difficult to consider what we will do without knowing that we can pick up the phone and call her whenever we need to talk or when we face a tough decision. I'm sure you all know our mum was an amazing Mother, Grand-Mother, Mother-In-Law, Sister, Aunt, Cousin and Friend!
These are memories to hold on to, and the knowledge that the world was a better place for having our mother in it. This is the time to celebrate a life that was well lived.
In 1956 mum set sail for the UK to study nursing, where mum started her nursing career in Alder Hey Children Hospital Liverpool. Mum studied and specialized to become a Paediatrics Nurse. Mum also did her midwifery at Sefton General Hospital between 1959 and 1960. By 1960, mum archived her professional qualifications as a State Registered Nurse, State Registered Children’s Nurse and Certified Midwife.
It was during her training mum met our dad who was studying medicine at the time. He specialized in Paediatrics too.
After their studies they got married and moved to the United States where our dad completed his residency program at John Hopkins University.
In the early 1960’s they moved to Nigeria to both embark on their life long careers in Paediatrics at the University College Hospital (UCH). It was here at UCH that Macella dedicated 30 years of her career caring for premature (preemies) babies. Mum loved taking care of them so much, and mum would always come home with exciting stories of each of the babies. Always praying for the babies and their mothers.
During her stint at UCH and as part of her achievements, mum and our dad were part of the leading team to deliver and take care of the first ever conjoined twins in the whole of West Africa. Mum was also part of the War Nurses who took care of wounded soldiers during the civil war in Nigeria.
Mum rose through the ranks from Staff Nurse to Sr. Matron of Paediatrics/Neonatal ward at UCH. This was a great achievement many aspired to attain. Mum retired from UCH in 1990.
On the social front, our mother was a very loving, kind and a God-fearing person. As mentioned earlier, mum had seven children who mum loved dearly and brought us all up to emulate her loving, kind and God-fearing nature.
Mum had a very creative mind, always creating and making things. Mum loved knitting and crocheting, sewing, baking, gardening, painting, and writing poems. Her beautiful paintings of natural landscapes have graced many homes with love. Her poems have been shared with friends and family, with some of them even winning awards and getting publish with the International Society of Poets.
Mum was always teaching church members, neighbours and anyone who wanted to learn these exciting home making skills.
Our mum was a great cook of Caribbean food. Mum also embraced and learned how to cook Nigerian food and delicacies from the local Okro soup to Edikan Ikong (native to our father’s culture).
Our mum was a dedicated and charismatic catholic. Mum belonged to and was the President of the St. Anthony’s Guild of her parish back in Nigeria, and also an active member of St. Vincent De Paul (caring for the poor), The Wednesday Club.
In 1993 our mum returned back to the UK and worked as a Paediatric Nurse for various NHS trust hospitals, mum finally retired again in 2004.
We will miss our mother. Mum brought us into this world, and mum helped to make us what we are today. It's difficult to consider what we will do without knowing that we can pick up the phone and call her whenever we need to talk or when we face a tough decision. I'm sure you all know our mum was an amazing Mother, Grand-Mother, Mother-In-Law, Sister, Aunt, Cousin and Friend!
These are memories to hold on to, and the knowledge that the world was a better place for having our mother in it. This is the time to celebrate a life that was well lived.