Beryl Olabisi Taylor-Lewis - Site web commémoratif en ligne

How does one talk about a person one loves so much, and bring that across in a few minutes. I love my mother very much and I miss her. I feel sad that she can no longer enjoy her grandkids. I feel sad that she cannot celebrate her 80^th birthday, even as three of her siblings, Uncle Itunumi, Aunty Aba and Uncle Solanke have. I feel sad that I can no longer call her on the phone late at night, or cuddle up to her and play with her arms.

My mum was a family person. She loved me and my 2 brothers to the full and overflowing. She loved each of her 7 grandchildren, and made sure they each got to know her for themselves. She loved being part of a big family, and on her birthday, would not leave her home, so as not to miss the 20 or 30 phone calls she would receive from around the world. On her visits to England and sometimes to Sierra Leone, she would stay for 3 months at a time, and catch up with all the family and  old friends.

My Mum was a generous person. She freely dispensed with money, time and effort, in order to help people and to be a blessing to them. She gave to charities regularly, but quietly, never letting her right hand know what her left hand was doing. Of the many calls I received as people sympathised over her death, one of the most moving to me was that of a lady who told me the story of how in her time of bereavement, my mum would call her regularly from Canada, and was a support to her. This was the first I heard of it, and for me, it epitomised the type of person she was – kind in a quiet way.

My mum was a fit and healthy woman, who looked 20 years younger than her age. I loved telling people her age, just to see the surprise on their face. She was energetic, and lived life to the full. She travelled widely, always with friends, and enjoyed herself. She was very active, and went walking regularly. In typically generous nature, she encouraged many of her contemporaries to be exercise regularly and be more active, rather than succumbing to the aches and pains of old age. It was only in the last few months before her death that she could was so weak and short of breath that she could no longer do anything much. That was the hardest for all of us who knew her to bear.

As people expressed their sorrow to me, many were thankful that she is no longer suffering, and is now at rest. I also thank God for that. More importantly, I thank God that not only is she free from physical suffering, but also from all suffering. God, through Jesus Christ, is able to not only take away our suffering and sin, but to replace it with his love and grace for us. I know that God has done this for my mother and it is for that reason that I am comforted in my loss. I have the hope of seeing her again, and therefore I do not have to mourn as those without hope.

Aunty Bisi was very special to me and i dare say to many. My earliest memories of her was visiting her at Port Loko. The mere mention of her name or the place kept me excited for a very long time. Was it the journey or the person who got me excited. I know it was the person, as i always wanted to stay a little bit longer. Whilst she was abroad, Mummy frequently mentioned that she had written and sent her love.

As an adult she has always been there for me, listening, giving food for thought and advice as appropriate. At times we spoke at the level i would use with my sister.  When Roderick and i got married, we had our honeymoon courtsey of her. Grandma Tunde was not able to atttend the wedding, and i wanted her to see me in my wedding dress. Her "No1's, No 1" who did i tell i was taking a detour between the church and the reception?  Aunty Bisi.

Dexter describes her as patient and generous. Since the age of 5 he has kept a book entitled "A book about me", given to him by Grand Aunt Bisi. He remembers her spending a day with us and the two of them collecting facts for the book, including drawing a footprint and counting how many steps we have in the house. He says he will treasure the book even more now. Hazel says that even though she was "old" and from a different era, she was a fun person and easy to get on with. "She related with us".

Throughout her life, she has left positive marks on various people. She lived her life to the full. No matter how we try to emulate her, it will be a struggle to get to where she got. She prepared us for her death, by being honest, open and strong. Ringing her on a weekly basis was not a daunting process as she was upbeat all the time. Many a time i would say do not talk, just listen. The reply would be "no i am fine".  She lived her life and bore the disease with such grace.

Steven, Musu, Harold, Tania and Polycarp hold on to the happy memories. Aunty Bisi lives on in you and your children.

May her soul rest in Peace.

                                        To My Best Friend

       My last visit with Mommy

It was on Monday January 13^th 2008; just over a week before her final hospitalization. Like always, I was greeted at the door with her cheerful smile and likeable personality.  Thought, she had problem with her breathing at the time, she managed her way down the stairs to let me in. She never gave up; her fighting spirit lived to the end. You see I met Mommy when she moved to Vancouver, and it was no coincidence that I warmed up to her on our first meeting.

During my visit, we chatted about sports and politics; not surprisingly the politics of Sierra Leone. At the time of my visit, she was watching the Australian Open and us both being avid sports’ fans; we got talking about the Australian Open. We talked about our favorite players in both Men’s and Women’s final. One of the players she liked on the men’s tour was Djokovic, though I cannot quite frankly remember her rational but I know she will be very pleased about the outcome of the Men’s final; in which Djokovic triumphed over Tsonga.

Like always Sierra Leone was never far from the unannounced but understood agenda whenever I have the opportunity to visit with her. She shared with me her days at Annie Walsh and the Science classes she and her friends took at Prince of Wales while studying for her GCSE. “You know, in those days the sciences were not offered at Annie Walsh,” she told me. I had the pleasant opportunity, to share with her my brief time at Prince of Wales and my plans to visit Sierra Leone. She gave me a perspective which left me with no choice but to appreciate the little I thought we had at Prince of Wales.

She told me of her studies in the UK and her work at Connaught Hospital after she returned to Sierra Leone. From what we shared that night and on previous occasions, I knew that Mommy was someone with a heart to make a difference in her community and she tried to do just that. However, she got tired of the infighting, nepotism and favoritism that has plague our politics for decades and decided to move elsewhere; where her contribution will be appreciated. To that end, I asked my final question. Is there any hope for our country Sierra Leone? To which she replied; “Yes there is, but until our people can choose presidents not based on their ethnicity but on their vision for the country, progress will be very slow.”

Less than a week ago, I saw an interview with Ernest Bai Koroma, president of Sierra Leone on HardTalk by BBC.  The high-light of the interview was the manner in which he articulated his vision for uniting Sierra Leone not behind a specific ethnic or regional group but behind a shared vision. Now whether, that is accomplish in my day is left to be seen, but for now, I can hold on to ‘Hope.’ Mommy left me with a sense of hope and I shall hold onto it for as long as I live.