MRS. VICTORIA OLAJUMOKE SERIKI GOES HOME IN STYLE Story: Tersoo Achineku Photo: Segun Lawal
Dr. Abisola Seriki, Mrs. Bolaji Momodu, Mrs. Toyin Seriki & Simisola Seriki
WAKE KEEP
Pastor Adekunle Adesina, Mrs. Abioye Adesina, Pastor Bayo Olusoga, Mrs. Omowunmi Olusoga, Mrs. Toyin Seriki & Elder Akin Seriki
Mrs. Toyin Seriki, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru & Mrs. Bolaji Momodu
Cross section of the officiating Pastors
T
he huge procession moved through the street in ecstasy. Drummers led the way, churning out beats that the crowd was only too pleased to move in deference to. Men, women all clad in uniform apparels showed off their various dance steps as they embarked on a procession in honour of a the deceased. On this occasion, the celebration was for Mrs. Victoria Olajumoke Seriki whose remains were being ferried in a posh Cadillac hearse. From afar, one might be forced to inquire why the horde was rejoicing since the hearse clearly meant someone has passed, but the simple truth can be gotten from a wise man who once said that a life well lived is a life well spent and a life well spent deserves celebration even after death. Mrs. Victoria Olajumoke Seriki, mother of Late 136
Captain Rotimi Seriki, lived life to its fullest and touched the existence of so many others. As such, it was certainly a thing of honour to send forth a true gem such as her, not in tears and mourning, but with a carnivalstyle celebration. Prior to her internment, a wake keep service was held to kick-start the burial ceremonies. The event of hymns, testimonials and prayers was held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, House of His Glory Chapel, Allen, Ikeja, which played host to a throng of family, friends and well-wishers who turned up to pay tribute to a wonderful woman of countless virtues who many described as loving and exceptionally considerate. The families of the deceased represented by Arch. Ola Seriki, Mrs. Toyin Seriki and her two daughters, Abisola and Simisola, dazzled in their well-tailored
golden traditional apparels. Speaking at the occasion, Pastor James Owolabi recalled the wonderful nature of Mrs. Seriki, explaining that it took both a kind heart and the fear of God to have touched the lives of so many like she did. Pastor Owolabi enthused that God was always on the lookout for people such as the deceased who held on to life loosely and put the needs of others ahead of theirs. He then stated that if a majority of humans were to display the affection that she did, the world would most definitely be a better place. He finalized his preaching with a prayer session for the Seriki family, begging the Almighty to bestow the excellence of Late Mrs. Victoria Olajumoke Seriki on them all. On the day of the funeral, the crowd’s destination was the church’s beautiful structure which was reflective