By Tony Icheku
Her face may not have been seen or her voice heard on the television or radio, but she shone  like the brightest of stars.  She influenced generations, and left a lasting legacy to celebrate her, for she truly lived.

 She lived a life that was virtually an open book. In her small community she personified dignified widowhood, uncompromising and irrepressible love for our Lord Jesus Christ, and community leadership.

 To say she was industrious would be an understatement. Besides full-time farming, she established a reputation in the length and breadth of Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State for her brand of 'Agidi Jollof', meal prepared solely from corn.

 Da Jemimah may not have invented Agidi Jollof, but in her time she possessed the brand, and on the respective market days of  the communities in Ikwuano, her several basins of warm Agidi Jollof would be sure to sell out first before others with similar item would get a seond glance from customers.

 Widowed while in her thirties, her first son, Blessing, a cleric of the Assemblies of God reflects with a mix of pain and 
triumph that if not for her  ".... implicit faith and virtous doggedness, the Ezekiel Awazie lineage
would have been history by now"

 Yes, Da Jemimah may have  gone to be with the saints. But she lives on: in that rich and beautiful embroidery of a life she lived,  clearly depicting the Biblical Virtous Woman.

 Da Jemimah was a simple and unassuming woman. She had that simple faith which echoes in the verses of that hymnal which urges  all to 'trust and obey'. Hers was not to query this or protest that 

 It was from her faith and resilient strength she lived to the ripe age of 92. Her micro scale trading and subsistence
farming were her only sources of income. Like her mother who worked her farms even while over a 100 years plus, Da Jemimah was an indefagtigable worker, shunning  idle moments. Her life revolved around farming, trading, the church and in between playing mother to others  besides her three Children. Yes, she played mother to abandoned or motherless children.

 Perhaps it must be only at nights, alone on her bed or down on her knees would she ponder the fairness of life that apportions  such vicissitudes on a young woman.

 Looking back to childhood, nourished by her motherly care, I recall a gentle, beautiful tall woman. On the few occasions,  I accompanied her to the farm, she made a song and dance of my puny strength in digging up moulds for cassava cultivation. Praising me to high heavens of taking after my late maternal great Uncle, her father, Nwakire Uwadinobi, a great farmer of reknown.

 In retrospect, that was her manner of encouragement. She rebuked mildly, but firmly. Being 'Ada Ukwu' - the first of seven children, she was also a leader of sorts in her family. Though gentle, but her no-nonsense attitude made those who may want to try their luck with her wary.

 In his tribute, her first son who saw it all recalls she used to be a big time trader when she and her husband lived and spread the gospel in far away places like Okirika, Elelenwon, Elele, Obigbo, Asa and  Ndoki communities, and other places.

 He recollects: "When she was born again as she told me, she stopped using her make up and trinkets which were taboos for believers then. She disposed them and joined the class of legendary fervent Christians.

 "My mother reckoned that it was tragic not to have the Holy Spirit and more important to be baptized in the Holy Spirit than the  profit of day's business. So after the morning prayers, she called the women together, all had equally prepared their  wares for the day's market, and told them they were no more going to the market, but will stay back in the church to pray with her for the Holy Spirit baptism..

 "All agreed without exception, abandoned the day's market (eke Obigbo), not caring for their wares, some of which were perishable, locked themselves up to pray, and that day my mother was baptized in the Holy Spirit...."

 Rev Blessing eulogises his mother further: "Gem-mima, hard to find and hard to replace. You were a collosus in many respects, you courage matches that of a thousand or more heroes. Only heaven holds your adequate decorations and rewards. A doyen of  hospitalilty, a passionate giver, and never weary in doing good"

 Mama Jemimah Ihiuwa Ezekiel Awazie, was a deacon, sunday school children class teacher and worker  in the Assemblies of God. She is survived by two sons,  Blessing, a cleric and Chidiebere, a businessman; Eight grand-children and one great grand-child plus numerous relations, including this writer.




She was born on October 24, 1924 and passed on on January 10, 2016, and has has since been interred.

 Da Jemima, Nne Oha,  find sweet repose and joy in the precious embrace of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen!