“PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS.” PSALM 116:15

Mary Awone Kaketo was born at Odumase Krobo in 1934 and named Odumasi Yoo by the then chief. She was the fifth and last born of her siblings—Aboyome, Yevu, Sedofia, and Kofi—born to Amega Kwadzo Dortor Kaketo, a renowned herbalist and traditional priest of the Gbanvie clan of Mepe, and Madam Lydia Akorsiba Akorligle, a farmer of Atsiekpoe-Battor, both of blessed memory.

Awone was the second girl among her siblings, but after her elder sister Aboyome died young, she became the only female among three brothers. She earned the name Tasi (“Aunt”) as the only auntie for her nephews and nieces.

From adolescence, she showed diligence, neatness, and intelligence. At Atsiekpoe, her uncles chose her among her peers to serve surveyors who came to the village.

Her father’s early passing left the family under single parenting. Awone and her brothers supported their mother with farming. A skilled swimmer raised along the Volta River, she harvested oysters to provide food and income. Her brothers even built her a canoe for the work.

Later, her elder brother Yevu Kaketo enrolled her in apprenticeship to learn sewing. With intelligence and creativity, she mastered the two-year course in just six months. She also traded wax print (Hollandaise).

After the massive flooding caused by the Akosombo Dam, she relocated to the Northern Region, joining her brothers engaged in infrastructure projects across Tamale, Yendi, Bimbila, Sawla, Buipe, Damango and others.

For marriage and business opportunities, she later moved to Kumasi, trading in clothing and sewing. She also travelled through Kwahu South and Afram Plains during the fishing boom caused by the Akosombo Dam, and even delivered her last child during one expedition.

As her mother aged, she returned to care for her until her passing in 1976. At Aveyime, she continued her clothing business and diversified into chop bar operations at Ashaiman, trading potatoes, cassava dough, cassava, firewood, and other goods. She was truly industrious.

In 1954, at Tamale, she married Mr. Morris Kwame Akorli, a former Clerk of Council from Adidome. They had four children:

1. Madam Janet Mawuwoe Akorlie
2. Mr. Stanley Kwesi Akorlie (deceased)
3. Mr. Vincent Papavi Akorlie (deceased)
4. Mr. Dennis Bessah Accorley (deceased)

After Mr. Akorli’s death, she married Mr. Albert Kworku Adzevia from Tsiame. They had two children:

1. Dnss. Mrs. Eunice Afafa Adzevia-Agbitor
2. Elder Paul Asiwome Doe Adjevia

In total, Tasi was blessed with six children. Mr. Adzevia passed in 1987. Before his death, she had mutually opted out of the marriage due to her Christian conviction against being a second wife. From her mid-forties until her death, she remained single.

Born into a family of indigenous African worship, Tasi’s conversion was a divine intervention. While pregnant with her daughter Eunice, she sought an abortion at a Tamale hospital, but the doctor was arrested for illegal abortion. The nurses advised her to flee. After delivering safely, she dedicated the baby at an Assemblies of God church.

She later joined the New Covenant Church with her elder sister Elolo Dorforsi, but eventually, dissatisfied with some doctrines, they moved to The Church of Pentecost (CoP). On 2nd December 1976 at Battor, both were baptized by Pastor Andrews Tetteh. From then, she remained faithful to CoP until her last breath, loving and defending the church everywhere.

Initially, she thought faith was to be kept private, but after proper teaching, she became a family evangelist. Through her efforts, her brothers, their wives, and children—over 100 family members—joined CoP. She became the family’s prayer warrior, often called upon at gatherings. She even gave Christian names to her nephews and nieces.

Tasi’s faith was unshakable. She prayed for others, even while on her sickbed. At Tema General Hospital, she was seen interceding for critically ill patients.

She survived two boat accidents on the Afram River. The first happened while pregnant with Paul and carrying Eunice; miraculously, all survived. In the second, after many drowned, she was rescued by what she described as a supernatural appearance of a huge odum board lifting her from the water—an encounter that strengthened her faith and won many souls when she testified at a General Convention in Great Ningo.

She also survived a head injury during a 1983 riot between Sege and Aveyime football teams, mysterious illnesses in 2017 at Tema General Hospital, and a taxi accident a year later that injured her leg. She attributed her survival to divine intervention.

Tasi played her role as a typical African elder woman and an aunt. She bathed almost all babies of her brothers and ground children in the family. She is present at all family gatherings including funerals, marriage and naming ceremonies. She played the role of a coach in the lives the brothers' wives as how to cook their favorite food and manage their homes. Tasi demonstrated great respect towards her brothers and they accorded her the same. She addresses them 'Fonye' meaning my brother and in the same vein, her elder brothers also do not called her by her first name but 'Wotasi' and 'Mawuwoe nane' apart from her elder brother who called her 'Awone'.

She plays the role as a lubricant that eases tension and solve issues among her brothers. No one sees or hears the Kaketo brothers fighting. We are yet to find the kind of love that existed among these siblings especially towards their only surviving sister.

Tasi is noted to be very kind and generous. Her generosity knows no bounds as she give to family members, friends, and church members. Like the biblical Dorcas she gives out her clothes, food items and money to those perceived are in need.

For the last six years of her life, Tasi battled ulcers on both legs. Through prayer and treatment, one healed, though the other persisted. Refusing to use a wheelchair or walking aid, she relied on faith and regained her ability to walk.

From March 2025, her health declined further. Despite medical interventions and prayer, her condition worsened. She was admitted at General Hospital from 14th to 16th July, 2025, and discharged, but her health did not improve. On 20th July, 2025, while being rushed again to the hospital, she breathed her last and was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Her death was a great blow to the family. The siblings had passed away in the order of their birth, with Tasi the last. Her passing created a vacuum in the Kaketo family—she was a gem, an institution in herself, remembered for her godly counsel, advice, prayers, songs, jokes, nicknames, generosity, and kindness.

Farewell

Hede Nyuie le Nutifafa me!

Rest in Peace, Mama Kaketo!