Beatrice Bosede Omolodun, nee Gbenebor (1949-2017): A Life, A Light And A Transition Like Few Others

World War II began on September 1, 1939. The seeds of that war were planted and grown in the dark, hateful dark minds of one political leader and his followers. The world stood aside as he selected for extinction categories of people that he considered undesirable despite the fact that their (and his) Maker had not and would never reject His own creation. World War II eventually became a protracted global war that remains the most widespread war ever fought in the history of the world. Exactly 6 years and 1 day later (that is, on September 2, 1945, the Second World War came to an end. However, even as the chorus chant “Never again!” made its way into the expressed consciousness of people around the world, the heart of man did not change and most likely never will. That chant was the product of a new war-weary and guilt-ridden world that was determined to be a better place for posterity by promoting love over hate, dialog over verbal and/or physical squabbles and peace over war. That was the world into which my beloved sister, Beatrice Bosede Omolodun (nee Gbenebor), was born on May 23, 1949.

Fondly called “Aunty B”, “Sister Bose” or “Sister B” by everyone, Mrs. Beatrice Omolodun was no ordinary human. She and I did not have the same parents but I know of nobody that knew her who would say that she treated any of her biological siblings better than she treated me or anyone else. Sister B was a selfless epitome of Christianity but I never once heard her speak about her religion or her Baptist church as a factor that made her more religious than anyone or as stool that placed her higher than anyone else; nor did she wear her faith as a decorative symbol. Her actions spoke her beliefs.

Born into a world that was desperately in need of people that truly cared about others and loved genuinely, Sister B loved and gave without expecting anything in return. She touched more lives in her native Nigeria and the United States, where the bulk of her life was spent, than is hardly possible even for the best of humanity. But, again, she was no ordinary human. Despite her high level of education, she served even the least of society with grace and humility. With a heart of gold and a remarkable personality to match, she did an incredible amount of good without wearing her goodness on her sleeve or flying it as a flag.

Despite being widowed just a few years ago, Aunty B remained unbowed and unbroken either by that loss or by her cancer diagnosis which took us all by shock and dismay. She fought cancer with resolve and determination and remained a constant encouragement even when we all knew what was coming. On April 1, 2017, my brother Peter (who is Sister Bose’s biological brother) sent a text message at 4:30 AM to inform me that Sister B had just been hospitalized within the last few hours. When we talked shortly afterwards, we both knew that the end had come for her and it was just a question of time before she would breathe her last breath. The next day, I received a text from Peter that I had expected but wished would not come, and which he wished he would never need to send. The words were few but sharp: “Sister Bose passed away peacefully this evening. We are heartbroken but glad that she feels no more pain from that awful ailment. Thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers”, he wrote.

At age 67, Sister Bose, who would have turned 68 next month, lived and impacted her world in a way that most people have never been able to do even at 100. As I think of her, which I have done constantly over the past week, I have many unexpressed wishes. I am also conscious of many realities and of my responsibility to be thankful to God for the opportunity to have hard as part of the cycle of my life a woman who displayed passion in loving and served others as if the only person watching was her God. By so doing, she may have fulfilled the purpose for which she was born and has hopefully left the living with a sense of responsibility to live passionately, lovingly, peacefully and honorably in service to others. No wonder, Raleigh, North Carolina is about to host more people (there to mourn one person) on a weekend than it has done in a long time.

Peter and the entire Gbenbor/Edwards/Irhabor family know better than anyone else that Sister Bose was a very rare human object and a glue that even the luckiest of families should feel blessed to experience once. Having been so blessed by her huge presence, the family now faces the dim reality of her passing. If this is any consolation, Sister B is whole again and resting where most of aspire to arrive when our time here is spent. The challenge of living earnestly and impacting our world, as she did, now belongs to all of us, including you – her biological family.

Adieu, Sister Bose! Goodbye, Aunty B!! May your remarkable soul rest in perfect peace.

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