…As Late Obodoekwe, Mother of PH Based Human Rights Defender, Comrade Styvn Laid To Rest
A clergy man at the Anglican Communion, Diocese on the Niger, Ven. Rapulu Chukwu Okoye Esq has admonished the public to shun covetousness and mad rush for material acquisition, saying everything about this life vanity.
Speaking as the officiating minister during the burial service of Mrs Grace Obodoekwe, mother of a Port Harcourt based human rights defender and public interest journalist, Comrade Styvn Obodoekwe which took place on Friday, January 3, 2020 at Okuzu Umuezrgbogu village, Oba, Idemili South LGA, Anambra state, Ven. Okoye Esq who is the vicar attached to St Thomas Anglican Church, Oba, stated that no matter what anybody acquires as wealth, properties, material possessions, and number of cars or estates the person may have, he/she must surly die one day, leaving everything behind.
He said when the last bell tolls, the highest portion of the person’s wealth that can be given to him/her is just one small space dug about six feet below the ground for burial.
“No one knows who will inherit the wealth and what the inheritors will do with them”, he said, adding that people foolishly and ignorantly soil their hands and separate themselves from the love of God just because of earthly pleasures.
He lamented that covetousness and wickedness have put many families in deep crisis, creating enmity among family members. He said, people should be more concerned about where they will spend eternity, rather than amassing wealth in ungodly manners for transient earthly comfort.
“Live a Godly life, fear God, be at peace with God and show love to your neighbours, your relations and to people around you at all times.
Do not use your position or your possessions to intimidate others”, he said, warning that death does not give notice to whoever it wants to take, but can come at anytime it chooses.
He stated that the late Mrs Grace Obodoekwe, a staunch member of St Thomas Anglican Church, Oba, was hale and hearty and in sound health as at the time she was plucked out by sudden death on February 23 at the age of 88 years.
He thanked God for giving the late Grace Obodoekwe the grace to enjoy long life. The learned man of God noted that the woman lived a life worthy of emulation.
“She was a virtuous woman, hard working, humble, God fearing, peace builder and dedicated to the service of God and humanity”, he said.
Tears and eulogies escorted her to the grave as she was interred after the funeral service. Styvn described the death of his mother, Mrs Grace Obodoekwe as a very big blow to him and his household, saying that his mother was everything to him. “She was my teacher, intercessor, staunch defender, stronghold, protector, source of courage and encouragement, psychotherapist, Motivator, role model, backbone, adviser, human guardian angel. She guarded and protected me jealously even until she took her last breathe, always treating me like a baby”.
She stood solidly by me in times of trouble, said styvn obodoekwe, who is news editor of a Port Harcourt based newspaper, National Point, as well as Programme Director of Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD, also based in Port Harcourt. He prayed that God will accept her soul in his paradise.
Styvn’s younger sisters, Chinwe Obodoekwe and Amaka Obodoekwe-Obishili who shared her last moments with her shortly before her death lamented that death came suddenly and did not give mama any opportunity to even tell them good bye. They described the sudden death as shocking, painful and unbelievable saying that she was full of life shortly before her demise.
“Mama, was the cord and bond that held the family together; she was a peacemaker and a pace setter, who always stood on the truth. She fought for her families, her children; her candid advice, instructions, corrections and directions which she offered to us were great and faultless. With them, one cannot make mistakes in life”, Wrote Chinwe Obodoekwe in a historical biography entitled the story of Grace.
On her own part, Amaka Obishili, a legal practitioner stated that In all things, she will always thank God for the life her mother lived and the Grace God Graced her with, saying that she was a brave woman, a special gift from God, a rare gem. “Thank you for being my mother. I will embrace your virtues though I will continue to miss you”, wrote Amaka.
Her daughter in-law, Esther Nkiru Obodoekwe described her as the best mother inlaw. “Mama was a prayerful and praying mother. She believed that God answers prayers. She never stopped calling on God in everything she did. No wonder she lived a successful life”, said Esther.
Mrs Grace was described as a virtuous, humble, hardworking and courageous woman who devoted her times to solving the problems of people and in rendering service to humanity.
The funeral rites started on Thursday, January 2, 2020 with a service of songs/wake keep at about 5 pm in her compound, Obodoekwe’s compound, Okuzu umuezegbogu, Oba, while the burial took place on Friday, January 3 after a funeral service conducted by St Thomas Anglican Church, Okuzu Oba..
She left behind 6 children, namely nze Alex Obodoekwe, Mrs Oyibo Chukwurah, Mrs Ukamaka Enweluzor, Com Styvn Obodoekwe, Chinwe Obodoekwe, and Amaka Obishili Esq, as well as other numerous relations, including a South Africa based business mogul, Chief Amaechi Okonkwo, Ebube Chukwu Uzor of Oba.
