TRIBUTE FROM THE OAKWOOD COMMUNITY"
‘Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on’. ‘Yes’, says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them’ – Revelations 14:13 (NIV)
Our hearts are heavy, our eyes filled with uncontrollable tears. The news of your death was a great shock to us all. Our Mother, our Leader, our Adviser, our Coach, our Preacher, our Counselor, our Teacher, our Doctor, our Colleague and Friend, lies before us and cannot associate with us as we are used to. We cannot share the laughter that identifies us as a great Oakwood family. How often do you come across the one person who leaves an indelible mark on you?
Grandma, as all and sundry within the Oakwood Community affectionately called you, was a leader, who at anytime could put anyone in the driver’s seat and would serve as a guide. She will
encourage and motivate you to achieve the best positive results. She knew how to appreciate and praise, and how to throw new challenges in a way that was fun. Grandma, your bosom was a very comfortable place of rest for all you came across, irrespective of age, size, race or background, especially in the Oakwood fraternity.
The little oaks (children) nestled in your arms and you were a great source of inspiration and happiness, everyday they met you. Each morning, you welcomed them with a smile and said goodbye with much love that they were always eager to return to see grandma in the office. When they still hear a car horn in the vicinity of the school, they begin to echo your name.... only not to see you walk in into the school. These little ones, you affectionately refer to as ‘little Angels’, will
forever miss you and will have no replacement for you in their hearts.
What will we the parents say? Truly, you were a mother to all. We felt really safe with our children in your care. You mothered, preached, doctored, taught and advised us a lot just about anything.
We will not forget how you would always reprimand us when we didn’t dress well and highly praise us when we looked good. You were positive in all circumstances even when everything seemed so bleak. We will not also forget about how you would always use the word of God to advise and admonish us when we sought your help with our challenges. We will also not forget how you encouraged us to only think and say positive things about our children. You will be sorely
missed.
The staff will really miss you. To us, you demonstrated love, kindness, firmness and above all, a tenderhearted personality envied by all. As our preacher, you preached to us the pure word of God. As our teacher, you taught us a lot about this life and shared a lot of personal experiences.
As our doctor, you doctored us on healthy lifestyle and showed us many remedies to some diseases.
We will never forget those two statements, ‘Thank you’ and ‘God bless you’ anytime you gave any of us a piece of advice. We will not forget that ‘sweet pinch of love’ you also gave on our arm after those wonderful words of encouragement.
We never expected it to be this early, Grandma, to draw down the curtain. You always used to tell us, ‘hold the fort when I’m gone’. Hmmm.
You have fought a good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith. Now there is in store for you a crown of righteousness which the Lord Jesus will award to you when you meet Him.
Grandma Suzzy, may your gentle soul rest in Perfect peace, and rest in the bosom of our Father Abraham, till we meet again.
Fare thee well. Kpo mo! Kpo mo!! Kpo mo!!!