Mama Esther Soremekun transits at 104

Diaspora Nigerian and Centenarian - Mama Esther Ayinke Alaba Soremekun passed away at the ripe age of 104 on 29th August and was laid to rest last month.

Glowing tributes were paid to the Christian faithful - Mother Celestial Esther Soremekun who was a staunch member of the Elephant and Castle Parish of the Celestial Church of Christ in London.

The Beginning

Esther Ayinke Fehintola Alaba Mann was born on Monday the 4th of February 1918 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Her father, Pa James Omotoso Mann originated from the well-known Sopehin family of Itesi, Ake in Abeokuta, Ogun State.  Papa Mann worked for Nigerian Railway in Lagos and retired to Port Harcourt where he transitioned to glory.  Her mother was Madam Elizabeth Egeyemi Olakunbi Davies from the Oniru Royal Dynasty of Lagos Island that produced the Oyekan ruling family.

Among Mama’s siblings were Papa Nathaniel Olayinka Mann, Madam Alake Shogbamimu, and Madam Josephine Ibijoke Adigun who are now of blessed memory and a junior sister - Madam Agnes Titilola Crowder.

Educational Background

When Mama was 7 years old, she started her educational journey from CMS Girls’ Primary School in Kaduna while living with one of her aunts - Mama Matilda Idowu Mann.  She progressed with her Secondary education in Zaria in 1926, moved to Port Harcourt in 1930 and later returned to Lagos in 1933.

She also attended Baptist Academy on Broad Street where the popular Western Nigeria politician of the National Convention of Nigerian Citizens [NCNC] - Papa Samuel Ladoke Akintola of blessed memory was one of her teachers.  It was at this tender age that she devoted her life to serving God.  Mama became and worked as a teacher for about six months before embarking on a career in the fashion industry.

Marital Life

Miss Esther Mann married her sweetheart and bosom friend – Late Mr. Afolabi Adekunle Soremekun in 1944.  At that time, he worked for Elder Dempster Shipping Line as a Clerk while Mama carried on as a prosperous trader and entrepreneur.  After marriage, Mama persuaded Papa Soremekun to quit the rat race of salary earning and both of them went into various business ventures, which included exporting timber overseas.

She established a company named MATOBS STORES, and Papa Soremekun became the Co-Managing Director.  Mama and Papa led a successful import and export trade (which included timber logs, leather and commodities) with foreign companies in various countries, which made them travel most of the time across the Middle East and Western Europe to broaden their business.

Business Enterprise

Mama entered the fashion industry as a Sewing Mistress; she had a shop at Tokunbo Street near the famous Mercy Hospital in Lagos Island where she trained young women how to sew.  Mama established a company that dealt in ladies hats and supplied many traders across all parts of Nigeria.  Mama enjoyed being a businesswoman for many years and used her spare time sewing clothes when she retired.

Mama gave a testimony of how God saved her from a disastrous ferry accident during her importer and exporter days.  This occurred on her way back to Lagos Island on the ‘Owo lowo’ ferry crossing from Ikorodu riverside where logs were prepared for exporting.  Many lives were lost when the ferry capsized but God gave Mama a second chance and reason to continue to praise Him.

Religious Life

Mama Soremekun was born into a Christian family. She was baptised and confirmed in a Methodist Church in Ikoyi, Lagos. She was named ‘Esther’ after the Biblical Queen Esther. Mama and Papa went on a Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel that included a tour of Egypt in 1961.

On the 17th of July 1984, Papa transitioned to glory and Mama became a widow like Anna a Prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser (Luke 2:36-38).  This became a key turning point in her life and she started her journey within the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC).  In September 1984, Elder Olayinka Odunlami (now Superior Evangelist) directed Mama to Elephant and Castle Parish.

Journey within the Celestial Church

After joining CCC Elephant and Castle Parish, Mama Soremekun rose to the rank of Mother Celestial. She celebrated her 70th, 80th, 90th, 99th and 100th Birthdays in the parish surrounded by friends and family from far and near. 

More important than any rank is the wisdom that Mama used to guide and counsel countless members and non-members of the church. She became the Grand Matron of Elephant and Castle Choir on the 22nd of March 2009 and the Grand Matron of the same parish (alongside the Grand Patron, Superior Evangelist Job MBE) on the 26th of May 2013.

During her 90th birthday celebration, CCC Elephant and Castle Parish hosted the present Pastor and Spiritual Head of CCC Worldwide - Reverend Pastor E.M.F. Oshoffa who officiated during the landmark celebration.

Character and Hobbies

Mama had a character of being straight forward and exuded truthfulness in a loving way - no matter the consequences.

Right from her youth, her favourite foods included: rice, yam, egg, salad, but she disliked Eba (Cassava pudding).  

Mama’s favourite pastimes and hobbies included: Gospel, religious music and Wordsearch puzzles.

In Mama’s Words

During her 100th birthday anniversary in 2018, Mama said:

“I have been asked to say few words to commemorate ‘celebration of my life’.  It is with so much joy that I am thanking God Almighty, for bringing me through the valleys and hills of life to celebrate my 100th Birthday.  My prayer is that God Almighty, in His Infinite mercy will look on every one of us and grant us His Blessings.  Amen.

When I look back on my life and now look around me every day, I am so grateful that God has clothed me with wonderful people.  He has fed and watered me through the blessed love and support of my family, friends and the Celestial Church of Christ.

God’s blessing will always be on all of you, and I leave you with the words of Psalm 145, one of my favourites!”