As classmates at the Federal School of Science in Lagos, Nigeria, you lived a life that radiated the glory of God. I later found out that you were classmates at Queens School, Ibadan with Funmi Rogers who I later married. So having you as a friend to my wife and I individually and together made you special to us. Your short visit to Cape Town was a renewal of that friendship. We were looking forward to a thanksgiving celebration in Lagos, but now we can celebrate your life with thanksgiving to our faithful and loving God who alone is wise!

I would always remember you for lots of positive moments. Firstly, in our workplace, you would probably have won an award for the most popular mother. You were known for always calling your daughter Ada to regularly check up on her.

I also grew to know you personally during your health challenges. In all of these, your personal courage and hope in God were qualities that always stood out. You faced your health challenges with dignity and trust in the Lord.

Even amidst these challenges, you still looked out for others. You still carried the burden of others. You were still very much the Mother Hen looking out for her chicks.

You will be sorely missed and I pray the good Lord grants your loved ones complete faith in His sovereign decision to call you back from your sojourn in this world.

Bis-Bis.
Its been more than a month.
It has been difficult, really difficult to come to terms with your passing. I would rather remain in the land of 'abelievemia', continuing to tell myself that when I land in Lagos, you will be there, I will see you as usual, hear your raucous laughter, continuously gist with you, eat the lovely moyinmoyin that you will send someone to go purchase from Adeniyi Jones Avenue. We were always telling ourselves that we are watching our weights but would always eat something or the other!
Bisi you were a friend in a million, a confidante, where are all those adjectives - dependable, reliable, unforgettable, trustworthy, kind, compassionate, etc.
So we met for the first time in medical school, you arrived a little later than the first group in our set, but who could have missed you with all those lovely clothes your mum who was later to be known as 'Mama Doctor' made for you. She made sure you stood out. You went home to 'Ibikunle' every weekend and returned with the clothes and lovely food. These made people like me who lost our mums early on in life miss our mums the more!
Your mum's profession was later to inform yours on retirement - you took dressmaking up several notches more, and practiced the profession with the responsibility expected of a doctor. You were a chip off the old block but instilled perfection and accountability into the job. Everything you did, you did well.
Bisi after our 2nd MB, you became involved with James, and gave us girls a little space and that included not just your new friends but also the Lagos ones you had known prior to medical school. You both became an 'item'. We initially thought it was an academic relationship thinking it was an unlikely entanglement but the years proved us wrong. James saw a good thing and clung to it. It worked, it ended up in marriage and produced 4 beautiful children and now grandchildren. Your lovely children will miss you so terribly and so would James because you were his jewel. He doesn't say too much, but knew a good thing and would not let go.
You were also a mother to all the children in your church and many more. Watching you relate to all of your non-biological children made you gain a lot of respect from me. Your love also extended to your 4 siblings who you never stopped talking about. You also never stopped about you 'Phillips' cousins who also as far as I am aware held you in high regard. They will all miss you so much Bisi, and I can almost hear them say 'Bisi, Area Mama sun re o'.
Leaving us at such a young age goes again to confirm that those whom the Lord love die young.
Bisi rest in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who you lived for whilst on this side of the divide.
It is well.
Love you loads. Liza