I met Layo as Lola's sister as Mrs Oni's big daughter back in the 80's, so she became my friend as well. At the time we both had little boys; Gbenga and Robert are the same age. Robert loved spending time at the Oni's home playing with Gbenga. Over the years Layo remained a trusted as well as trusting friend of our family.

I will always remember her as a 'lady'; dignified, calm, very sensible and with the ability to be reasoned in her thinking and her gentle advice. Her calm exterior was engaging and gave confidence to those around her. When she laughed, it was her eyes that did the laughing, it was so welcoming and made you feel comforted and comfortable.

I knew her as a God-loving person, quietly witnessing for the Lord without any fuss because her Christian faith was so very solid. 

I still cannot believe that Layo has gone to that heavenly place before us ! She is gone much too soon! I certainly was unprepared for her leaving us already. I take comfort in the knowledge that God knows best and He has the final say; I have to accept that her time has come and we must not question God in His actions, I can just hear Layo saying this to me. So long my friend.

I remember when my siblings and I arrived from Nigeria our first home was one room in a multi occupancy house in Tooting in London. Our mother was finishing her nursing training outside London and my big sister who was 13 at the time was a surrogate mother to John & I because our mother had to live at the nurses home (that was the rule in those days) and only came home for her days off. (Note: children raised in Africa are quite mature at age 13 and capable of looking after their siblings and the home, so this was not unusual).

There was a co-tenant living in the house, he befriended our family and looked out for us children whenever mum was away. One day whilst mum was away he gave us a box of 'Black Magic'. We were terrified. Being well brought up children we thanked him but grudgingly and with some trepidation. But we did not thank him the next day (because as you know well brought up Nigeria children are taught that even if you have thanked a person at the time of the good deed you have to go and say thank you again the next day) we felt he did not deserve a second thanks, in fact we avoided him from then on. My sister Layo, who is the epitome of 'all wisdom', suggest we wrap the item in a thick blanket and put it in a very dark place to suppress its power. We did this and placed the box deep under the bed. For days we were careful not to disturb the offending item, to await mums return and watch how she would deal with the problem, the item and the offending donor. 

As soon as mum arrived a few days later even before taking off her coat, we told her about the peculiar gift. My brave big sister Layo brought the blanket and its contents. Our mother unwrapped it very carefully and we were horrified when she laughed, and laughed, and laughed, she laughed so much tears streamed down her face. Even more horrifying she started to unwrap and open the offending 'Black box' as her three terrified children retreated just in case something deadly escaped from the box ....... our eyes popped with delight when to our amazement lovely chocolates nestled in the Black Box' and emerged for our consumption .......... We scoffed ourselves. Of course our mother insisted we go and apologise to the co-tenant for not thanking him the day after giving us the gift and to give him his well deserved second 'thank you'. I have loved 'Black Magic chocolate' ever since.

I meet up with my big sister Layo through my life long friendship with Lola. I arrived in Canterbury , Kent from then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1975 to commence my SRN training. I was one of the few black student nurses and Lola ( Iyabode) took me under her wing. I would then spend time on days off, with Lola, becoming an additional daughter of the Oni household. Layo would be at home often when ever we would go to London on our days or nights off.  We always looked at Layo as our big sister, quietly spoken, woman of few words, dignified with a quiet smile. I  remember her as she would give us words of wisdom about life in general. Stay focused and remain in the faith and in prayer were her favourite gems to us. Lola and I enjoyed  studying, working and partying hard. Life at that time was very exciting particularly for me as a green horn in the UK.. Layo would occasionally have to keep us on the straight and narrow.. through her big sisterly and loving pep talks. I have gone back to my photo album where and see pictures of us,  your first born boy Segu baptism, pics of you and the boys with Mom. I wish I could share them but remain technologically challenged. 

As I write this looking at the slide show.. tears streaming down my cheeks, memories alive of us ..like it was yesterday. I remember you with a heavy heart. Layo... May your soul rest in peace in the loving arms of the Lord and I pray that you be reunited with Mom. 

When we came to the UK our mother was coming to the end of her nurse training outside London so my big sister Layo looked after my brother and I whilst our landlady was our guardian. Mum always left the cupboard full of dry food products and enough money to shop for necessary fresh items. We Lived in Tooting and to our excitement a funfair opened at Tooting Bec Common. We three 'gullible fresh faced children' went to the funfair and discovered slot machines. With each attempt my sister Layo was convinced that she was about to win, as she slotted more and more pennies (no not pence in those days) in the machine John and I watched anxiously but with anticipated excitement, until to our horror all our fresh food shopping money was finished. We looked at each other aghast, passing the blame around each other as we made our way home penniless and fearing hunger. Thank God mum came home the next day, but guess who got all the blame, as usual my poor big sister Layo. As we grew up whenever we remember that story we laugh so hard, it taught us a very good lesson at an early age, gambling never pays and the gambling house will never lose