Funke Olaode
Sweet they say is the demise of the righteous and happy is one who finished the labour of life well. And for those who touched many lives, community, impacted humanity and also committed to God till the end, their names indeed will remain in the sands of time. All these saying without doubt suit Madam Alice Ayodele Gidson-Jofortan a.k.a Mama Saro perfectly well. Without doubt, she left an indelible mark that cannot be easily erased in her community, church of God and her family.
It was therefore a celebration of a life well spent for Madam Jofortan, mother of Pastor Joe Gidson-Jofortan of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 14, when he and his siblings rolled out the drums to celebrate their mother who many described as hardworking, compassionate, kind, loving, upright, caring and above all, a committed and devoted Christian.
Though she died on May 2nd 2018 and was buried the following day, her celebration of life and thanksgiving service was held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Divine Glory, Okota Parish on Saturday, July 14, 2018.
As early as 12 noon, well-wishers, church members, area, zonal and parish pastors in Lagos RCCG Province 14 turned out in a large number to support one of their own.
The sonorous voice of the choir created an ambience of spiritual and merry making, all for Gidson-Jofortan.
In a short sermon, Pastor Adewale Owolabi thanked God for a life well spent for the deceased. He said, “Living and dying isn’t the ultimate, the main thing is the legacy left behind”. Ending the sermon, Owolabi asked rhetorically. “What legacy would you like to leave behind?”
Extolling their mother whom he described as one in a million, one of the children of the deceased, Edward Gidson-Jofortan said, “She was a disciplinarian who inculcated strong values in her children. I am proud to be associated with her. She will be sorely missed.”
One of her daughters, Hajia Maryam Abdulmalik, also expressed what their mother meant to her. “She was always there for me and my siblings. She sowed so many wonderful and unforgettable seeds into us. She had so many qualities such as integrity, a high sense of responsibility and deep love for humanity. She was the best mum anyone could dream off. I will miss her.”
Paying tribute to his mother whom he usually to call ‘Mamie’ because of her unfailing love and superb care for her children, another son of the deceased, Pastor Joe Gidson-Jofortan in emotional voice talked glowingly about his mum. “I doubt if anyone on planet earth can ever love me the way you did.
“You tolerated my excesses, felt my pains and you taught me how to be strong. You gave me what was good for me, most times beyond what was due.
“You taught me how to love and care for a wife, you were my friend and a sister. I would continue to cherish your memory for the rest of my life,” he concluded.
Late Mrs. Alice Ayodele Gidson-Jofortan a.k.a Mama Saro was born on the 21st of November, 1932 in Freetown Sierra-Leone, to Mr. Joseph Tamuke and Mrs. Abiodun Tamuke both highly respected of Sierra-Leone. She began her early education at Mrs. Elizabeth home school, from where she moved to St. Methodist School Sierra-Leone for her primary education. She would later commence her secondary education at Hussein College, Warri, Delta State of Nigeria.
She got married to her beloved and pre-deceased husband, Mr. Wilcox Emmanuel Gidson-Jofortan, who was an accomplished educationalist in 1952. They were married for 33 good years and the marriage was blessed with nine children. She passed on peacefully on May 2nd, 2018. Mrs. Ayodele Gidson-Jofortan was an elegantly fashionable and adorable woman, who had a serene and confident disposition. The secret of her success was her undaunted faith in her saviour as she spent the rest of her life serving her maker.
