Even in Death, They Remained United: Remembering Late Colonel Isaac Ayodele (Retired) and Late Lady Evangelist (Mrs) Victoria Adejoke Fayemiwo
Even in Death, They Remained United: Remembering Late Colonel Isaac Ayodele (Retired) and Late Lady Evangelist (Mrs) Victoria Adejoke Fayemiwo
His wife wrote a tribute for him unknown to her that they will both read what she wrote in honour of her late husband, together in heaven, where they have found their new home. He died on January 1st, 2020 while she died on 8th March 2020. Colonel Isaac Ayodele (Rtd) and Lady Evangelist (Mrs) Victoria Adejoke Fayemiwo must be up there now, praying for all their beloved children, among which is Major General A. A Fayemiwo of the Nigeria Army.
Dear Colonel Isaac Ayodele Fayemiwo (Rtd), your son, Major Gen. A.A Fayemiwo, who is now following in the military tradition as you once did, says:
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“Warrior” as I fondly called him was a father, teacher, superior officer, and mentor. He metamorphosed from being a loving father to a wicked father, then mentor, and finally, compassionate father. In your old age, you became my pastor.
Daddy, your warnings were prophecies. Anyone who knew you well holds your words to heart. I remember borrowing money from you when I was in dire need as a Captain and promised to pay back within a period. The day I brought the payback cheque to uphold my honour, you tore it and told me how proud you were for me to have kept to my words; most importantly, the purpose for which the loan was obtained. This experience shaped my decision to uphold every bond I made to date. You also made me realise that every great man sells integrity.
Your good name was goodwill and will always be with me. While everyone cries for our loss, I smile in pains and pray you live in the bosom of the Lord.
As the great Micheangelo says, ‘Death and love are the wings that bear the good person to heaven.’ This is indeed a consolation for all those they left behind because truly, this couple lived their lives in love till the very end.
While plans for the burial of her darling husband was on-going, Mummy (as her children often called her) most certainly had to summon an unimaginable amount of emotional stamina in order to compose a tribute for her husband. She noted:
When I began to write this tribute, the song that came to my mind that I sang over and over again was:
Glory be to the Lord, Glory be to the Lord, Glory be to the Lord, Hallelujah. When we started our journey over 50 years ago, I never thought this day would come so soon. Our paths crossed while we were hawking as children in the town of Ibokun for our respective parents. The journey from friendship through courtship and on to marriage, I will never forget in a hurry.
I had always prayed to the Lord that when the time came to exit, there would be no pain or suffering for you. I thank God He answered that prayer. You woke up on the said day, ate your breakfast, joked with me, took a stroll, then climbed your bed and slept in the Lord. In my heart, I still hear your voice calling my name “Joke”. The morning of our parting, I brought you breakfast, and in your humorous self, you said to me: “Why are you committing lookery”. If only I had known those would be our last moments together, I would have hugged you a little longer and kissed you goodbye.
Reading through this emotional tribute, you may want to really wonder what “committing lookery” is, but this is a great testament of the powerful, joyful, and loving relationship that existed between this couple. Using the power of words and the tongue, to cause others to smile!
Now Mummy Victoria, you are in heaven with your sweetheart where you will smile forever. Your death also brought sorrow to all those that loved you but they will always love you forever.
Your son, Dr. Adetona Fayemiwo remembers you:
Mummy you were accommodating and always cherished genuine friendship. You opened your arms to all with same love and passion. Mum was a woman of substance, inner strength and honour. You demonstrated to us how to give, how to love, and how to be contented in life. You gave your unflinching and unconditional love to your heartthrob, Col. Isaac Ayodele Fayemiwo (Rtd.) till death separated you despite few difficult moments.
Olayinka your daughter is saying to you: For the bond between us that is eternal, not DNA, flesh, or blood but the HEART that makes us family, thank you.
And of course, Toks your combatant son, will forever be grateful for the lessons you taught him:
I remember the first day you were to take me to school at the Federal Government College, Ogbomoso. On our way, you drove straight to late Mr Coker’s office, my dad’s close friend and Branch Manager of one of the foremost banks then in Ibadan. That day, my heart broke to pieces when I was informed about dad’s sacrifice to get us a home by borrowing from the Bank. The visit opened my eyes to the mysteries of life. Mr Coker showed me the title documents of the house we lived in then and other documents I could neither read through nor understand. You stressed that the essence of the visit was for me to remember my roots and work hard as I stepped into the world you made me realise that anything that stopped you and dad’s ability to offset the loan, would mean losing the house.
I, Osa and the kids will miss you but take it that your sacrifice to see us through the rigours of life will forever be remembered.
Mummy, there were many others that wrote tributes to you and your beloved husband, I know you both have read them and you are blessing all of them from above.
On 10th February, 2020, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai, who was then Chief of Army Staff, Nigeria Army paid his tribute to your husband:
Our condolence visits to the family of Col. Isaac Ayodele Fayemiwo, the father of Brig. Gen. A.A Fayemiwo. It is a great loss to the family, the entire Ibokun Community, the Nigeria Army, and our dear country Nigeria. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. We love you Baba, but God loves you most. Rest in the bosom of the Lord. Adieu Baba. Amen
This absolutely, is now a tribute to both of you. May you both rest of peace. Amen.
Only God knows when death will come calling.
As Adefunke Eniola recalls of her dad:
“I rememberthe last video call we made on Sunday December 29, 2019, it was the last time I saw you alive. Although you appeared frail, you still put up that strong demeanour of a military man. We were all excited, taking turns, speaking with you. I worried because you looked so weak and was silently praying for you to get better soon. Then you announced to us in the video, ‘o ya e fi mi sile, mo fe simi.’ … That was it! The last time I heard your voice. I guess that was the moment my spirit released you. Therefore, when the news of your passing came two days later on early morning of 1st January, 2020, I knew for sure you had gone to rest. “
Steve Jobs who was the chairman, CEO, and Apple co-founder (a multinational technology company) once said, “Remembering that I will be dead soon is the most important tool I have ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”
Even in Death, They Remained
