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LATE MADAM BOMA CONSTANCE BROWN AGED 68YRS (1946-2014) March 2, 2015 at 12:15pm HER BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE Shewas called different names by different people depending on how they related with her namely; Mama, Asisi Boma, Akrika, Sisi Boma, Constance, Boma,Mama,Asi. Late Boma Constance Brown was born by Christian parents on the 8th ofApril 1946 to the families of Late Mr Dick Ebirim of Obini-uhu village of Nkwerre Local government area and late Mrs Cecilia Bimbo Akpa Brown of Finima in Bonny LGA of Rivers State.

She knew the essence of her life and devoted it accordingly to: Her Passion (People), Her love (God) Her Skills (Catering) to service humanity to the glory of God.

THE BEGINNING: She commenced her education in 1952 at St Michael’s Primary School Aba and later obtained her RSA papers from St Paul’s Commercial College, Aba in 1962. Later in the same year,she got married to the late Mr. Meshack Omunabo Twama-Abels of blessed memory and relocated to Port Harcourt.

HER PASSION (PEOPLE): She loved people and volunteer work was in her genes. This was evident during after the war at great personal risk, she use to trek from Potts Johnson Street to the Army base at Rumuobiakani to secure rights for refugees and also converted her home as a rehabilitation center for refugees from Biafra in a period that it was not a popular thing to do until the restoration of normalcy to Port Harcourt.

Atthe end of the war she and some 11 notable women formed the Rivers Women Improvement Society such as Mrs. Isabella Fiberesima, Ellen Epelle, Lillian Aprekuma, Dorothy Brown and Martha Allwell-Brown just to mention a few for the purpose of re-integrating orphans,widows and women who were adversely affected by the Nigeria civil war and she remained their Secretary until her demise.

Whileworking in Nigeria Ports Authority after the war, she joined the United Kingdom based charity called St. John’s Ambulance St_John_Ambulance_(England_and_the_Islands), a charity dedicated to first Aid and rose to become a senior officer and their work complemented several aspects of the negative outcomes of the Nigeria Civil War for several years.

Even after the Nigeria Civil war, her love for volunteer work saw actively participate in the rehabilitation effort of the victims of the Ogunpa flood disaster in Ibadan and the Nigeria returnees from Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.

In 1967, she joined the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) YWCA a Geneva based international charity organization as a volunteer member and served during the war in caring for abandoned children. Her responsibility grew when she became the Financial Secretary and later a two term (1998-2004) Chairman of the Port Harcourt branch. It was in her tenure that the YWCA Primary School at Bernard Carr Street in Port Harcourt was duly approved by the Rivers State Government, a project designed to provide affordable qualitative private tuition to children in Port Harcourt.

Due to her immense contributions to the body, she was compelled to run for national office and was duly elected in 2005 as the National Vice-President of YWCA Nigeria until 2008, an office she served for four years successfully that saw her embark on volunteer assignments from Lagos to Australia.

She was enrolled as Life Member of YWCA Worldwide and Ex-Officio Member of YWCA Nigeria until her demise.

HER LOVE (GOD): Madam Boma Brown relocated with her husband to Port Harcourt and was baptized by the late Bishop Dimeari in 1963 in St Cyprian’s Anglican Church  and was admitted into the then Women Christian Association (WCA) now known as Women’s Guild (WG) and served faithfully as Financial Secretary for over eight years. She was a pioneer member of Women Group four(4) of St Cyprian’s Church, a group she loved and missed dearly.

She was a devoted member and pursued the interest of gender worship epitomized bythe Mothers Union Women Guild (MUWG) from which she formed the famous Women Choir of St. Cyprian’s Church loved by all in the church, it’s electric performances and particularly the theatrics of their Musical Conductor Boma Brown which will throw the church into a frenzy of praise & worship.

Mama was instrumental to the building of St.Patrick’s Church Finima and loved them dearly as she always felt that as a ‘home based church’ it was her duty to rally support for the church. Thus she covenanted to provide the Mother’s Day and Harvest Cake for the church from 1980s to date and, on her last visit to Nigeria the bulk of her luggage constituted of Communion materials for her churches.

Despite her relocation to the United States, her best of times was whenever she was to come home to Nigeria especially to attend the Easter, Mothering or Annual Harvest Services.

She loved the Lord and renewed her affirmations to him faithfully in service by serving in various arms of the church like: MU/WG St Cyprian's Church, Member Constitution committee (MU/WG), Chairman, St Cyprian’s Women Choir, Member, Reconciliation committee, Member, Hostel committee (Women Project) Patron,St Cyprian’s Anglican Youth Fellowship, Guild member, St Patrick Anglican Church, Finima, She was honored by the Diocese as Conference mother.

HER SKILLS (CATERING): Madam Boma Brown was a renowned caterer having been tutored with finishing skills by her mother and late in her life, the late Mrs. Oyiya Nsa who was grounded in the Hospitality Business with her Ven Hotels (Airport Hotel) of blessed memories taught her to use these catering skills to earn commercial benefits for herself.

The profit part of the lessons never sank in as Mama could not differentiate between business and charity as long as she could make people happy.

She joined the Nigerian Ports Authority and worked first in the Accounts department and worked under Alabo O. B. Lulu-Briggs. She later opted for the Catering department to pursue her love for Catering and horne her skills at a corporate level.

Her love for people and protection of rights made her become a very active member of the Dock Workers Union, a wing of the Nigerian Labour Congress and ‘AKRIKA’ as she was popularly known was not a person for half measures as labour activities saw her traverse the breath of this country working under various notable labour leaders.

She retired as a Senior Catering Officer after 13 years of meritorious service in 1984.

Madam Boma horned her catering skills and used it to nourish people and communities far and wide to fulfill her ministry of catering with food and people, a gift which God had bestowed on her and she cherished very well.

She was a very hardworking woman who never believed in laziness and mentored a lot of people into the catering business (all her children & grandchildren that lived with her irrespective of gender are ardent caterers), particularly encouraged young wives to develop these culinary skills.

OUR MOTHER: Madam Boma Brown was a committed mother to her children biological and non-biological. She was a mother to her friends, children’s friends, relations,neighbors, less privileged members of society and all that came in contact with her.

Madam Boma was not a perfect person and also had to deal with the ‘lime’ life threw at her and she exhibited this particularly with her impatience with laziness,mediocrity and injustice. But even her enemies will attest to her work culture, sense of fairness and justice.

Sheextended her benevolence to the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ as she was driven by the scripture that states that it was more blessed to give than to receive(Acts 20:35). Her hospitality and generosity especially with her kindness and advice endeared her to all and sundry.

Mama as she was fondly called by many, indeed epitomized the scripture in Proverbs(30:25-29) which says that “strength and honor are her clothing… She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness, she looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness, Her children rise up and call her blessed... Many daughters have done virtuously but thou excelleth them all”.

EPILOGUE: Late Madam Boma Brown took ill unexpectedly in September 2014 and she peacefully passed on the 31st of December 2014 at an untimely age of 68 years. She will be seriously missed by her Children, Siblings, her Church and Port Harcourt.

The scriptures in the book of John 5:24 says that “… he that heareth my word and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life and shall not come unto condemnation but is passed from death unto life’. Although we are grieved but we encourage ourselves with the scriptures which comforts us not to sorrow like unbelievers who is without hope. 1 Thess: 4:13.

Mama… You cannot be replicated, but we will try to live by the values you taught us!!!

Mama….Dein na mu!

SHE IS SURVIVED BY:

Children: Eugene& Joyce Abels Magdalene(Pastor) & John Iheme PhD. UrehC. Okirie Chioma (Engr) & Larry Goggins

Siblings: Loveth Jimmy Brown Nkechi Kakulu (She passed away on friday 27th Feb 2015) Elizabeth Loko Humble Brown Theodosia Brown

Grand Children: Ibim Felix Inko-Tariah Richmond Dakoru Ayibaselete Daniel Abels Okori Fletcher Inko-Tariah Jason Ikechukwu Iheme Ayibakuro Naomi Abels Jeana Iheme Ayibatonye Deborah Abels Jessica Iheme Jodi Iheme Elise Goggins Joshua Goggins