Ransolina Idowu Elisa Lewis (nee) Macauley, fondly remembered as Aunty Dowu to relatives and friends, and Mamie Lewis to her professional colleagues, was born in Abba, Nigeria on January 9th, 1938, (incidentally, a birthday she shared with her pre-deceased husband.) to her parents Mr. Vidal Christopher Macauley of Murray Town, and Cassandra Effuah Macauley (nee) Davies.

 Ransolina was called home on 24th July, after a swift battle with pancreatic cancer; a day that coincided with her pre-deceased spouse's, of December, 24th.

 In 1946, her parents retired from their 24 years tenure, working for the Government of Nigeria, and returned home with all six of their transient born children, from the Republic of Nigeria.

 She completed her elementary education at the Murray Town Primary School. In 1949, after her Common Entrance Examination, she was accepted to attend the FSSG (formerly Osora). But, the comprehensive American curriculum with free tuition, free books, free uniforms, free food, commissioned by American President Theodore Roosevelt, would entice her parents to persuade her to opt for the Roosevelt Secondary School for girls. She felt very privileged to be among the first set of students to be enrolled at the Roosevelt.  A distinction, she carried with immense pride, all throughout her post-secondary life. After three years, she would take advantage to transfer and enroll at the FSSG, the school of her first choice. Classmates of hers, tell stories of her academic excellence. She enjoyed her years at the FSSG, where she made lifelong friends, with whom she stayed in contact till her transition to heaven, three weeks ago. After secondary school, she opted out of pursuing a career in nursing, to take the highly acclaimed civil service examination. Her successful results in the exam, earned her employment offers from the Bank of Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone Customs and Excise Department. She accepted employment offer at Customs & Excise Department, making her the first female to work for that institution, under colonial rule.

 She would spend the next 38 years of her professional life, breaking milestones of 1st places. In 1968, she immigrated to the United States, on study leave to join her husband. While in Tuskegee, Alabama, she enrolled at the Buck Macre School of Business Studies for a certification in Administrative Studies. She later moved to Savanah, Ga. where she attended the Customs Officers Training Corp and obtained relevant training to pursue advancement in her career. In 1970, they moved to the state of California, where they resided for two years. In 1972 she returned home to resume her civil service career at the Sierra Leone Customs & Excise.

She achieved several promotions, and retired from Sierra Leone Customs & Excise Department as a Deputy Comptroller, in 1994. After retirement, she co-founded a small business club, whose objectives were to network with other small business women and vendors, to advance their business careers. Notable members in that group were, Mrs. Abida Harleston, in Atlanta and Ms. Yennoh Jalloh of Ohio.

She was highly revered by colleagues, she came across at work, and her daily life. She had associates from all spheres of life. Close friends to her heart, were a group of market women at the 'BIG MAKIT' in Freetown.

She was a Christian believer and a woman of extraordinary faith. No place was this more exemplified than during her illness -- initially with leukemia and more recently with pancreatic cancer. She dealt gracefully with both, and to our surprise became a source of hope and strength for the family. Not once was she despondent, angry, or asked "why me?". Mummy was an active member of her beloved Jordan West African Methodist Church. Her service to her church spanned from Sunday School Superintendent, right on to delegate to the connectional assembly. Many will remember her for her taciturn delivery of all forms of assistance to people she came across, without requiring any form of recognition. 
 
In 1997, as the war in Sierra Leone intensified, she immigrated to the United States, together with her pre-deceased husband, where she's lived with her children right on to her transition.  

She is survived by her children, Dudley, Samuel III, and Evelyn; daughters-In-Law, Jeannette and Alice; grandchildren Kwannette, Kwardel, Samuel IV, Joshua and Julian; brothers Ayo Macauley, Everette Macauley, Eugene Macauley; sister, Hannah Modupeh Williams; and a host of In-laws; cousins, Dr. Christian Idowu Horton and several more; nieces, nephews and adopted children here in the U.S, Europe and Sierra Leone.

Of all her accomplishments, we are most proud of her exemplary Christian life and legacy of service to mankind.

She will be remembered for her always smiling face.