Rest in peace Laide. So much to say, but too few words. I know you are smiling down as I write these few words. We did so much together, 1978/79. I will always remember. YOUR LIFE AND DEATH IS A HUGE WAKE UP CALL FOR ME. Rest in peace my darling sister. God be with the kids, ALWAYS. Dr Abiola Idayat Balogun

Rest in peace Laide. So much to say, but too few words. I know you are smiling down as I write these few words. We did so much together, 1978/79. I will always remember. YOUR LIFE AND DEATH IS A HUGE WAKE UP CALL FOR ME. Rest in peace my darling sister. God be with the kids, ALWAYS. Dr Abiola Idayat Balogun

.....if I could wish for anything on my 24th birthday, it wouldbe to have you show up again in Toronto to surprise me like you did for my 21st. Days like this, I miss you even more. My heart is filled with love and my eyes with tears of of the joy we shared and how much I wish you were here. But you're always here because your memory lives. I really couldn't have asked for a better mum than you. God be with you til we meet again. Amen.

Hmmmmmm, my wonderful aunt Laide, everytime i think of u, the first thing i remember is ur lovely smile.... U were just sooooooooooo on point, very, very understanding, nice, caring, and o soooooooooooo pleasant, i don't think i ever saw u angry. i remember the last time i saw u, at Mo's place wen u came visiting in 2006, u made me, Michelle and Wale iyan and efo with egusi, n i remeber michelle could not handle the pepper but myself n Wale loved it. We took pictures, gisted, u advised me, u even triedcalling my mum but u didn't get thru, now i really wished u did. N i remember going home thinking to myself "wow, it was soooo good seein aunt Laide after soooooo many years", who would have thot that that'll be the last... You came in summer of 2007 but unfortunately for me i went home for hols, but i spoke to u wen i called Abi on her bday n u asked to speak to my sisters which u did, awwww aunty why, why why, i soooooooooooo can't believe u are gone.... I was in the middle of a presentation wen i got the news of your demise,n i couldn't control myself cos i couldn't just imagine dat such a lively soul could be gone just like dat, i knw it is the will of GOD hence he needed you more than we all did. At Mo, Abi, Joke and Bobo, may GOD continue to give u guys the strength and perseverance to deal with your loss, and i know it's not been easy but i'm soooooo proud of u guys and i'm very sure your mum is as well because u all have been very brave.. My dearest, sweet aunty Laide, i will never forget you, may your beautiful soul continue to rest in perfect peace, 'E sun re o'...... It is well with our souls, amen...

I was fortunate to know Aunt Laide in my early years of life and always remembered her to be a gentle soul. Who could forget my attachments to Morayo and Bimbo when she came to Surulere to go get a shawama at flavors. Those fridays were always the best. She always had a smile in her face no matter what the situation was. She brought up four beautiful beautiful children, two of the girls who I have cherished as sisters and I was also fortunate to grow up with....The attributes of this hard working woman that should be reciprocated and have been shown in her M and B are the drive and ambition at which she lived life. She lives on forever in our memories

I was around when she came to visit for morayo's birthday....that was the first time i had seen her since i was knee-high. She was so full of life...fun-loving and endearing. She will always remain in our hearts....we all love and miss you so much....

An amazing woman. You will forever be remembered. In your short time you touched so many people; I remember a bus driver in Luton telling me about you. My most abiding memory is of her looking at the cheap as chips bottle of wine I got her for her birthday one year and she didn't just not throw me out of her house, she seemed genuinely pleased and grateful. What a loss, but your memories live on

I never really had a lot of encounters with Aunt ‘Laide, but my relationship with Mo' was as close as it got. On the couple of occasions we met, it was always exhilarating how much love she had in and around her, and she never failed to shower it on everyone. She was always cuddly, full of energy and life...she rubbed off on me in a lot of ways, but the one thing I hold on to is her expression of love, and that’s something I have tried to emulate… Aunt ‘Laide, its soothing knowing you are in a better place. I can’t believe how long ago I last saw you…kinda feels like yesterday I was over at the house and you wanted me to stay back, so we could all catch up. It's sad you are gone…that's the selfish part of me, wishing you were still here. But it's relieving knowing you are in a better place, surrounded with everlasting love and peace...with u, God and the angels sitting down side by side, watching over all of us...and smiling... :) Miss u Aunt...xxx

What an honour and priviledge it has been for me to have known Aunty Laide. I will always remember her, not only as one of the best aunties i have ever had, but also for her sweet, gentle & loving nature. I remember the way she used to treat my sisters and just I like we were her kids and it felt like Morayo & Bimbo were our sisters. She was a woman with wisdom and i admired her alot. We truly miss her. I know that she is in a much better place and is watching over us all until the day we meet again. I know you all are in deep pain...my prayers will be with you Forever in my heart....

My fondest memory of aunt laide was back when we were all so young and folake bisola and I used to come to your house. I remember how she taught us to sing and made all of us sing the song and we were all so happy. She is the best mum you girls could ever have. Very caring warm and lovely in all. We all miss you so much. I know you are smiling down at everyone of us especially your kids. U would always remain in our hearts. We love you so much and would always miss you.

I never met Mrs Debola Gbadebo in person and I regret not ever doing so. I knew her through Morayo and Abimbola, I saw the lengths she went to make sure her kids were happy and I learnt that contrary to my beliefs the pursuit of happiness is a worthy cause in life. I can only imagine how much more I would have been impacted if I met her. Some mornings I wake up and can't find the sun, Some nights I go to bed but can't find sleep, Some times I try to breathe but can't find air Some days I look up and you aren't there

Aunty Laide and I were not blood relatives, our paths crossed at the tutorial school we attended when we were both pursuing our professional Accounting Exams, ACA, some 20years ago. Only to find out in school we live on the same street. But she became a member of my family, my mum's "aburo" (younger sister) and my siblings' sister too. And she treated me like I was her first child! I remember how she would stroke my cheeks and say, ever so fondly, "pele oko mi" or "pele jumoke". She gave me the motivation to go on with the course. I thought, this is a married working (and part time trader) mother of three (bimbola was even a baby!); who pursued the course with so much determination to see it through! How can I, a young lady with virtually no worries, not succeed? She introduced me to trading along side working. She would get goods from her friends on credit for me. I had challenges but she always encouraged me, even though she had her issues too. She was ever so stoic in the face of the most difficult of times. Like Mo and Abi have said, she was ever smiling and chuckling; the sound of which I still hear in my head and the smile I see when I close my eyes. Despite the age difference between us, she confided in me. Everyone in my house would gladly baby sit Mo and Abi, in our house if and when she had no nanny and had things to do. You would always see the glee all over her when she talks about her kids or when she's with them. Aunty Laide, you were a most wonderful person, and I am grateful to God for having had you in my life. Uncle Debola, Mayowa, Mo, Abi, Aj and Bobo, I can imagine your pain, because I know how much even I hurt. May her soul rest in the much deserved eternal peace!!!

What you do with the time that you have down here is what really matters. And you did so much!! Boy, did you do so much! I won't relent in carrying on your memory: your kindness, your warmth, your wisdom, your caring nature, your love. All these and much more is what truly keeps me going. Brings the widest smile to my face just thinking about moments shared with you; moments I cherish each and everyday. Days go by and I long to pick up the phone to speak with you. There are moments I wish you were here to sharing them with us- birthdays, Christmases, new years, graduations; and the not so pleasant moments like bummed exams, silly arguments with Mo (lol), being homesick, getting braces and so on. You were always good with words, always had the right words to say. Words of comfort, words encouragement, words that provide me with the strength to keep pushing forward, words of wisdom. And even as I write these words, I'm comforted by thoughts of the future. Oh, how much the future holds. Thoughts of us all seeing each other again brings the brightest smile to my face. For I know there is hope in Christ Jesus. Through Him, I strongly believe you are no longer dead in the past, but fully alive in my future. 1Thessalonians 4:13-14 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died[a] so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died" Isaiah 41:10 " Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand". And as you always said Mum, "I love you dearly". Now and forever. :) :D

Mum,, I Could Write A Long Passage With Complicated Vocabulary But I Thought, Why Dont I Just Say What's In My Heart... I Think Of You All The Time And Still Cant Believe Youre Gone. Sometimes I Wake Up And Think Its All A Dream, Then I Remember The Bitter Truth. Sometimes I Think There Is No Bright Side To Look On Since Youre Not Here. And Its Difficult For A Girl My Age Growing Up Without A Mother As A Role Model. But Then I Realise All The Times Before When You Were Still Here, You Were Preparing Me For This. I Mean For Coping Without Someone To Help All The Time, Though The Majority Of The Time You Wanted To Help And Never Wanted Us To Stress Ourselves.. So You Took All Our Stress On Your Back And I Regret That Sometimes. I Wish You Were Here I Miss You And Really Cant Find Any Good Thing To Say Since Youre Not Here. Memories Are Never As Good As The Real Thing. I Love You For Ever And Ever And Cant Wait To See You. xoo Your Baby, Ajokemi

"Loved with a love beyond all feeling, Missed with a grief beyond all tears".....Forever Remembered, Forever Loved!!!

morayoninalowo

15 years ago

Such beautiful words. Thank you for being there Lloyd.

And Everyday, we pray for you. Your loving memory remains in our hearts -the words you said and things you did that made us love and cherish you this much. Its almost another year since you left us and I still can't believe you're gone. Its been almost another year and I still have the urge to pick up the phone and call. Its been another year and it feels just like yesterday. My only consolation lies in knowing that you loved us dearly and we'll always love you now, forever, and til we meet again. I miss you dearly.

No day goes by without me thinking about your beautiful smile, your warmth and the love that you had for each and everyone of us. It is that love that keeps me going each and every. I wake up every morning wishing I could pick up the phone to call you, get to talk one more time because it seems like you are the only one who could help me make sense of all of this. Even though you are gone, I truly believe Mum, that your spirit lives on. And even though I can't hear your voice on the other end of the phone, it is in my head. Forever instilled me; guiding me, directing me, giving courage and the strength to go on. It is the knowledge of how much love you had to give, of how hard you worked, of how selfless you were that motivates me. The love you had for each of your kids was beyond measure. You always had so much insight to give. I remember Christmas 2007. The last Christmas we spent together. You were in our room with Mo, Aj and myself talking to us about anything and everything. Giving us some useful life lessons. I also remember waking up early to escort you to see your clients. Even though I was reluctant cause it was too early for me, I cherished, and still cherish those moments because it gave me some alone time with you. Seeing your passion for your work and how much you cared for your clients brings a smile to my face till this day. It inspires me so very much. I could NOT have asked for anyone better or anything more of you because for me you were truly special, perfect in your own ways, a true angel sent from heaven by my father, our father. The Lord God of hosts to whom you have returned. I miss you so much, and I love you even more Mummy.