Mrs Stella Okenla was born on the 8th of May 1915 in the Commercial town of Onitsha, Anambra State of Nigeria.
Her father was Jacob Garba Bright an alumni of Durham University and Barrister of The honourable society of the middle Temple he resided at Bright Street in Onitsha.
He was the brother of Dr Bankole Bright the well-known West African Politician of his time and his Sister was the elegant and beautiful Mrs Lerina Bright Taylor of Freetown Sierra Leone.
Her mother was Mrs Winifred Titilola Bickersteth from the Bickersteth family of Lagos and of Oke-Itoku Abeokuta.
Her sisters were Mrs Cecilia Osadebe wife of the late Mr OJC Osadebe of Onitsha and Mrs Galbena Modupeola Oyekan the very first wife of Oba Oyekan of Lagos.
Her family left Onitsha for Lagos in June 1920 when her father suddenly fell ill and eventually died in Lagos on the 24th of June 1920. Since then Stella (Sissy) has been living in Lagos.
She was brought up by her Grandmother Mrs Amelia Omolayole Campbell of Martins Street Lagos.
Mama Okenla attended Methodist Girls high School Lagos for both her Nursery and Primary education. She then proceeded to Mount Carmel convent School Ebute Metta (now called our Lady of Apostles) for her Secondary school education.
After leaving school, Mama Okenla worked as a Clerk at Kingsway Stores Marina, Lagos until she married Mr John Augustus Babatunde Okenla, the Grandson of the first Balogun of Egba Christians on the 8th of December 1935.
Their marriage which lasted for 44 years (until Papa Okenla’s death on the 25th of December 1979) was blessed with three children, 12 grandchildren and inumerable great-grandchildren.
As a wife Mrs Okenla was faithful, hard-working diligent and patient and her husband's family were extremely fond of her as she was a fantastic wife and mother.
She was kind, loving and generous and she brought up her children with the fear of God.
She was a staunch member of St Paul's Church Breadfruit, Lagos for over 65 years and was very active in church activities. During her lifetime she was the Matron of the Busy Bees Society of St Paul's Church Breadfruit, she was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Association and for many years she was the Secretary of the Badagry Helpers Union.
She was also a member of the mothers union of the women's guild and also the penny band.
An ardent supporter of vigil devotions; In 1976 she went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Vatican City (in Rome) and Lourdes (in France). She enjoyed serving God wholeheartedly and she was determined to serve him till the end .
One of her favourite hymns was "O Jesus I have promised to serve thee till the end."
As a neighbour; Mama Okenla was a member of the Alloy Association (a group of residents of Yesufu Sanusi Street Surulere Lagos). She was very charismatic and she wholeheartedly endeared herself to her neighbours,friends and associates .
She was extremely affectionate, affable, inspiring, versatile and vibrant.
She was our rock and is sorely missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her extended family,friends and neighbours who all take consolation in the knowledge that she lived a rich and fulfilling life which radiated love to all and impacted most positively on the lives of others.
In appreciation of her contribution to the Church, she was one of six awardees (on the 15th o April 2001) of the Parish Merit award of St Paul’s church Breadfruit (at the most colourful and very well attended church service).
Sissy was very much loved in the hearts of those whose life she touched. She left a legacy of true service to God and mankind which she bequeathed to all her family and loved ones. She lives on in the hearts of those who loved her.
Revelation 19:3 KJV
"And again they said, Alleluia."
