Tribute from
In-Laws

I first met Auntie Vivian in the early 90s in Asylum Down in Accra. I’d go looking for her daughter, Tamara, and she normally was in her shop attending to business as usual.

In the mid-2000s I reached out to auntie Vivian about visiting Tamara in the UK and whether she had anything for her. This marked the beginning of a special relationship between us. On my return from visiting Tamara, Auntie Vivian related to me like a son, regularly checking on me and sending pots of stew and soup my way. Our mutual enjoyment of going out led us to do so together whenever the opportunity arose.

It was pure joy to both of us when in 2008, I became her son-in-law. She called me ‘bro Jeff’ and I called her ‘Ma.’ Tamara and I took care of her and she was there for us. When our children Kyle and Sami arrived, she was the ever-present grandma extraordinaire. She was up with us during those sleepless nights when our babies cried, often taking over so we could catch some rest. I can still hear her beautiful voice singing this particular song to Kofi and Yaw.

Auntie Vivian was our backbone as we planned to relocate to the US. Although we were going to be away from her and were going to miss each other dearly, she was ever so supportive and helped us tie all loose ends before leaving. Following our relocation, she visited us regularly, each time for a continuous period of six months, thereby making her presence in her grandchildren’s lives felt. Our sons loved her and she adored them. The echoes of grandma Vivi excitedly playing Ludo with Kofi will forever ring in our heads.

In my last conversation with grandma Vivi, I told her about our planned visit to Ghana in the summer and we joked about going to eat gari at Kempinski. The fond memories with Vivi, I’ll hold dearly in my heart for the rest of my life.

Jeffery Agyekum Adjei

Son-In-Law

Just some few weeks ago, Mummy sent us some asasa cloths she had ordered for us. Never did we imagine she was going to exit this world soon.

Some days after that I made her fufu with chicken soup, for which she thanked me. Then she called me the next day again and said "Makky, the chicken soup you sent me was very tasty. In fact, everything about it was perfect! I just finished eating the rest of it." And I promised her I would send her some more. Mummy, not knowing our time together was about to end abruptly. If I had known you were going to transit this soon, I would have made you oceans of chicken soup... but now it is too late.

Rest in peace, Vivi.

Mummy, hede nyuie!

Rev. Mrs. Makafui Nassar

Daughter-in-law