The late Osofomame Gladys Lomokie Agbodeka was born in the year 1950 to Mr. Lomotey Mawudjigwua Smith and Madam Grace Afrakuma Bannerman all of blessed memory.

EDUCATION
In her early stage of life, Gladys Lomokie Lomotey Smith stayed with the father who was a wealthy Gold Smith at Keta where she had her elementary education at Keta E.P Primary and Middle School which she completed in 1965 with Middle School Leaving Certificate.
Sister Gladys as fondly called in the family cycle, after her elementary education went to stay with the mother Grace Afrakuma Bannerman a.k.a Isaaknye at Takoradi who was a trader in gold jewelry. They relocated to Big - Ada because of the aging of her mother. In Ada they continue with their gold jewellery business adding items like powder and perfumes which they sold in Ada and its environs all the way to Great Ningo.

They also in those days engaged in a popular and money making business known as ‘Tea Selling’. It was in her jewellery business trip to Great Ningo that see caught the eyes of the then Elder J. C. T Agbodeka.

CONVERSION
Osofomame Gladys Lomokie Agbodeka was converted and baptized in the Divine Healers Church where she faithfully worshipped the Lord with the mother Grace Afrakuma Bannerman in Big -Ada.

MARRIAGE
Sisters Gladys got married and had two issues Christopher Ofotsu Adusu and Sarah Naadu Ayertey before getting married to then Elder Agbodeka in 1975.

 Mrs. Gladys Lomokie Agbodeka whose remains lie before us today met then Elder Agbodeka at old Ningo during a Homowo Festival when she attended the Devine Healers Church.  They had their engagement and marriage blessed as couples in the same year by the then Rev. Emmanuel Amon and stayed as couple for forty three (43) years. 

WORKING LIFE 

In 1975 the same year they got married, Elder Agbodeka was ordained as a pastor in the Divine Healers church and Mrs. Gladys Lomokie Agbodeka as Osofomame and were posted to Ada-Foah. They later left The Devine Healers Church and joined The Church of Pentecost in 1977 as minister and wife and were posted in 1978 to Prankese in the Eastern Region by the church, transferred in 1984 to Sege near Big Ada and in 1990 to Dodu-Amanfrom in the Volta Region where they went on voluntary retirement from fifteen (15) years of active ministry due to the poor health condition of Pastor Agbodeka and relocated to Tsopoli near Old Ningo until her demise on August 5, 2018.

CHILDREN 

 In her forty three (43) years of marriage to Pastor Agbodeka (Rtd.), God blessed them with eleven (11) children, precisely eight (8) handsome men and three (3) beautiful women.

CONCLUSION:

To us, as a family, she was a mother, sister and friend, her humility and selflessness taught us to love one another and be there for each other at all times. Her demise is indeed a blow, an oak tree has fallen and the vacuum created by her exit cannot be filled in any way but we are hopeful of meeting her someday.

"There is a time for everything, a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot. A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time gather them." Ecclesiastes 3:2-5

MARRAIGE LIFE

I met Mrs Gladys Lomokie Agbodeka whose remains lie before us today at old Ningo during a Homowo Festival when she came to The Devine Healers Church. 

We had our engagement and were blessed as couple in the year 1975 by the then Rev. Emmanuel Amon. It was in that same year that I was promoted and ordained in The Divine Healers Church as a pastor and was posted together with my wife to Ada Foah. . 

WORKING LIFE 

In the year 1977, circumstances compelled me to leave the Devine Healers Church and joined The Church of Pentecost together with my late wife where I was again ordained as a Pastor and posted to Prankese in the Eastern Region by The Church of Pentecost in the year 1978 and ministered there for six (6) years. In 1984, we were transferred to Sege near Big Ada and later in 1990, transferred again to Dodu-Amanfrom in the Volta Region where I went voluntary retirement as a minster of The Church of Pentecost due to my poor health condition which could not help me work effectively in 1993. My late wife, children and I lived and worked in the above named areas for fifteen (15) years in active ministry and finally settled at Tsopoli near Old Ningo. In all these rounds, and my predicaments my late wife, Mama Gladys supported me to the fullest of her abilities.

CHILDREN 

 In our forty three (43) years of living as couples, God blessed us with eleven (11) children, precisely eight (8) handsome men and three(3) beautiful women but in all we had fourteen (14) children. Out of the eight men, one is now a pastor in The Church of Pentecost, 2 being Elders and a lady as a Deaconess.

HER STEWARDSHIP 

There had been many hard times in our lives during transfers in the ministry including caring for so many children; the worst was when I became sick for five (5) years. She made every effort within her capabilities to ensure that I survived. She attended fasting and prayer programmes of the church to support me spiritually. Lo and behold, I recovered by the Grace of God after retiring from active ministry.

Mama Gladys was one person who devoted her time to taking care of all our children including others we met and lived with at our various stations in ministry and even on retirement. She took good care of all visitors and the many others we met during our travels including family members. She is well known for giving and sharing, no matter the size of what she had in hand and the number of recipients.

HER LIFE AT CHURCH:

She was not just a Pastor's wife but a devoted member of the Church. She attends if not all most programmes both far and near. She danced on every occasion at church to the admiration many. 

EPILOGUE:

 The time I feared your death has long passed. That was when you fell sick seriously for months and I felt helpless but you survived by the Grace of God. Why now that you will enjoy from your children the fruit of your Labour? Hmmm, well, I know the Lord loves you more than I do, hence your decision to choose the Lord's way by leaving me now. You have proved what the Bible says in Luke 17:34; "I tell you, in the night there shall be two men on bed; one shall be taken, and the other shall be left."

Yes, you served your Lord faithfully and understood His ways, and are gone to rest with him; even though your death is a painful loss to the children and I.

CONCLUSION:

Mama, I wish you stayed longer, oh, your demise has really broken my heart, I wept and still weeping like a child, I had sleepless nights and nightmares since your passing, you have really created a vacuum that no one can fill. My wife for forty-three (43) long years, you will forever be missed.

May You Rest In Perfect Peace In The Lord!

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." - Proverbs 31:28-30

We (your children) stand here today as we always do every New Year but this time round, the gathering is bigger, the voices are louder and the dance floor is equally spacious, spacious enough to allow us join you on the dance floor but you will not dance so we could follow. 

Oh Mama, Yomo Gladie as we affectionately call you, are you no longer going to dance with us. So it's true that you are gone and never returning. So it's true that we'll see you no more, and never hear your voice again, if it is so then in deed our hearts are broken, because we will be left with nothing but just memories of you.

 Yomo Gladie, we are all here, from the first to the last of your children; your sons and daughters are gathered and none is getting a kiss, not even a hug, your ‘soul mates’ are here, all four (4) of us and yet you won't speak, hmmmm, it’s even the birthday of your last child and you won’t even blink?

Your silence today confirms that you are truly gone and never returning. You will forever be missed (wa he ma ja). Who will visit us on Wednesdays and Sundays just to make sure we are doing awesome out there and show us alternative medicines when we are sick?

 Mama, we are broken, we are crushed by your demise but we take comfort in the words from scripture that, this is only a transition from this corrupted and wicked world to external rest.

 Yomo Gladie, we know we shall meet some day in glory with our maker and dance to more melodies forever but until then rest Mama. 

Rest In Peace Yomo Gladie, Ya wo dii, Da yie, Xe de nyuie, Fare de well!

"The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil." - Isaiah 57:1 NIV

Oh Grandma, why have you left us this soon without a goodbye? From whom are we going to get kisses and hugs at our yearly parties? 

Grandma Gladys, why did you leave us this soon, couldn't you wait a bit longer to share with us some tales of old, why Grandma, why did you leave without a goodbye let alone an advice. 

Grandma, your untimely death has broken our hearts and rendered us helpless. We will miss you but we are assured that your exit from this sinful world is to rest with your maker in paradise till we meet again and so we are comforted though you will forever be missed. 

Rest In Peace Grandma Gladys, Da yie!