Foluke Adunni Adegbaju was born in 1935 at Ogbon Oya compound of lie Ife. Her father was the late Samuel Idiogun Alainde of Ogbon Oya compound, a prominent and famous large scale cocoa farmer who established Oru Alainde village, Oke Owena, Ife South Local Government. Her mother was late madam Abigail Oni Alainde of Akeran compound, Ilare, Ife. Mama Foluke Adunni did not have the benefit of western education but being from a background of a hardworking family, she was able to live a fairly comfortable life before getting married to a wealthy cocoa produce merchant from Asarogun compound of Iredumi, lie Ife; Pa Julius Idowu Isoja Oladoyin popularly known as Bamisayemi Oluwa. The marriage produced two children; Folorunso and Funmilayo. The marriage ended abruptly when Papa Idowu Isoja was politically murdered on 24th December 1965.
Mama faced a torrid time for so many years after the death of her husband but eventually settled down with Pa Badiru Fayenuwo Adegbaju of the Timi compound around 1971. Pa Badiru Adegbaju later became the Timi of Ife. They were together till She became a widow some ten years ago. Mama was into various businesses during her lifetime but she was renowned as a plank seller, a business she did for about 45 years. Mama was survived by eight children namely Folorunso, Funmilayo, Kayode, Damilare, Muritala, Rasaq, Simbiat and Abass. She gave her all during her lifetime to ensure her children were successful. She was indeed a mother in a million. She died on the 26th of April,2021 after a brief illness.
Maami, you have gone home at last to rest. Your well-deserved rest. You came, you saw, you conquered. You were an exceptional mum to your children and a caring sister to your siblings. Your immediate and extended family will definitely miss you. Thank you for the wonderful legacy you left behind for your children. Since your demise, the testimonies of your good deeds were beautifully expressed by all and sundry. You taught us to give, even when we had little. You were so caring; you still showed care whilst on your sickbed.
Maami, I still remember vividly how you stood by me when I was carrying my second pregnancy; you nurtured and prayed for me till I delivered the baby. You were an industrious woman who took it upon herself to train your children in the act of buying and selling. I remember in the year 1974 when there was a scarcity of kerosene, Mama will travel all the way to Port Harcourt to buy kerosene and sell Mama was one of the founding members of Atagijere in IIe-Ife. A resourceful mother indeed! You might not be with us in flesh Mama, but your sweet memories will linger on. I am comforted by the fact that you are resting well in the bosom of the Lord and one day we would meet again. Adieu Maami Adunni Ade, sun un re o.
Your daughter, FunmilayoAyesanmi.
Iya Muredo, as I fondly called you, I grew up to know you as a hardworking, courageous and loving mother. You lived a very good and quintessential life. You stood by me all through my trying period and when others rejected me, I am forever grateful to you. You ran a good race and finished the course. You
personified geniality, generosity, excellent and rare motherliness. You have left a vacuum difficult to fill, but I am happy and consoled that you left indelible marks and a legacy of excellence behind. Reston good mother and a great mother.
Your Son, Dare aka, Oregun
Mama, you were the truest and dearest mother-in-law I could ever ask for. You were a precious gift from God, so much beauty, grace, love and patience you possessed. Mama, you were so endowed with uncommon attributes: You always put others first and ready to go at any length to help in meeting their needs; You never had a time of your own, rather you shared it and used it for others; You were such a hard-working woman, even on your sickbed, you were still making cool money from sales of goods; More importantly, you upheld all of us in prayers, especially to our children. You were such an epitome of kindness, honesty, humility, generosity, and integrity. You cannot visit mama and leave without being
offered food no matter how brief the visit is. All these we are going to miss from this great virtuous woman. I join other well-meaning individuals to celebrate a great woman; indeed an amazon, my mother and friend. It is a thing of unquantifiable joy that this woman of steely disposition played very significant roles in my life, especially for raising the woman that I love and for instilling in her that uncommon strength of a prayerful life. Good night Maami.
Your Son-In-law, Prof. Ademola Aiyesanmi
Dearest Grandma, Unforgettable! That is what you were. You were such a rare gem. Your generosity, dedication, and devotion were unequalled. I thank God for your life grandma and the imperishable legacies you left behind. It is a privilege to call you my own mama. Sun re o Mofoluwake Adunni
Your granddaughter, Dr. Oluwadara Ayesanmi
Love you grandma – You truly were a special, special woman! You may have passed on, but your memories would always live on within us. Thank you for your sacrifices, your care and concern, your love and everything that you have done for me. Wherever you are, I know you are In a much better place.
–Oladoyin-Bamisayemi Lolade
Tribute to a mother who gave her all. Oh my mother! I am yet to come to terms with the reality that you are gone forever. It looks surreal. However, I am consoled by the fact that you died a happy mother.
You gave your all to ensure that your children turned out well in your lifetime. Though you were not educated but you spent everything you had to make sure I went to school. You even sold your clothes at a point in time. We lost my father when I was only three years old but you played the role of father and mother combined and the suffering you endured to raise my sister and I was beyond imagination. I take solace in the knowledge that you witnessed my glorious milestones like when I was elected the Chairman of Ife Central Local Government and twice into the House of Assembly, as well as when I was appointed as the Commissioner of Education in the State. I still remember the big smile on your face to see your motherly effort on me yielding successful results.
I thank you mum and I pray that you rest peacefully in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ.I miss you and I still cry every time I think about you. Good night Iya Aja. Farewell till we part no more.
From Folorunso Oladoyin (Aja)
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