The Trumpet Newspaper Issue 582 (October 19 - November 1 2022)

Obituary
OCTOBER 19 - NOVEMBER 1 2022 TheTrumpet Page11
Mama Esther Soremekun transits at 104
Continued from Page 10<
women how to sew. Mama
established a company that dealt in
ladies hats and supplied many
traders across all parts of Nigeria.
Mama enjoyed being a
businesswoman for many years and
used her spare time sewing clothes
when she retired.
Mama gave a testimony of how
God saved her from a disastrous
ferry accident during her importer
and exporter days. This occurred on
her way back to Lagos Island on the
‘Owo lowo’ ferry crossing from
Ikorodu riverside where logs were
prepared for exporting. Many lives
were lost when the ferry capsized
but God gave Mama a second
chance and reason to continue to
praise Him.
Religious Life
Mama Soremekun was born into
a Christian family. She was baptised
and confirmed in a Methodist
Church in Ikoyi, Lagos. She was
named ‘Esther’ after the Biblical
Queen Esther. Mama and Papa went
on a Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem,
Israel that included a tour of Egypt
in 1961.
On the 17 th of July 1984, Papa
transitioned to glory and Mama
became a widow like Anna a
Prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel
of the tribe of Aser (Luke 2:36-38).
This became a key turning point in
her life and she started her journey
within the Celestial Church of
Christ (CCC). In September 1984,
Elder Olayinka Odunlami (now
Superior Evangelist) directed Mama
to Elephant and Castle Parish.
Journey within the Celestial
Church
After joining CCC Elephant and
Castle Parish, Mama Soremekun
rose to the rank of Mother Celestial.
She celebrated her 70 th , 80 th , 90 th ,
99 th and 100 th Birthdays in the parish
surrounded by friends and family
from far and near.
More important than any rank is
the wisdom that Mama used to
guide and counsel countless
members and non-members of the
church. She became the Grand
Matron of Elephant and Castle
Choir on the 22 nd of March 2009 and
the Grand Matron of the same parish
(alongside the Grand Patron,
Mother Celestial Esther Ayinke Alaba Soremekun
A younger Mother Celestial Esther Ayinke Alaba Soremekun at 26 years old
Superior Evangelist Job MBE) on
the 26 th of May 2013.
During her 90 th birthday
celebration, CCC Elephant and
Castle Parish hosted the present
Pastor and Spiritual Head of CCC
Worldwide - Reverend Pastor
E.M.F. Oshoffa who officiated
during the landmark celebration.
Character and Hobbies
Mama had a character of being
straight forward and exuded
truthfulness in a loving way - no
matter the consequences.
Right from her youth, her
favourite foods included: rice, yam,
egg, salad, but she disliked Eba
(Cassava pudding).
Mama’s favourite pastimes and
hobbies included: Gospel, religious
music and Wordsearch puzzles.
In Mama’s Words
During her 100 th birthday
anniversary in 2018, Mama said:
“I have been asked to say few
words to commemorate ‘celebration
of my life’. It is with so much joy
that I am thanking God Almighty,
for bringing me through the valleys
and hills of life to celebrate my 100 th
Birthday. My prayer is that God
Almighty, in His Infinite mercy will
look on every one of us and grant us
His Blessings. Amen.
When I look back on my life and
now look around me every day, I am
so grateful that God has clothed me
with wonderful people. He has fed
and watered me through the blessed
love and support of my family,
friends and the Celestial Church of
Christ.
God’s blessing will always be on
all of you, and I leave you with the
words of Psalm 145, one of my
favourites!”