Princess Esther Folashade Adetoun (nee Olufuwa) Thomas was born on Monday 14th December 1942 in Queens Street, Lagos, Nigeria to Mrs P Adepeju Thomas and Prince J Owolabi (Olufuwa) Thomas of the Yoruba Royal House of Thomas of Agbowa Ikosi Town, Nigeria. She was the second child after her elder sister Princess Adebimpe (Olufuwa) Thomas.
She attended Saint Jude’s Anglican Primary School, Ebute Metta. Having lost her dear father at a young tender age of 5, she lived with her maternal grandparents, Prince Joel Adegbite Oshinyemi of the Gbeledua Royal Family, Ijebu Igbo and Madam Joana Adebola Oshinyemi.
In her adolescence, she attended the Anglican Secondary Modern School, Ifo, where she was described in her school report as being “an attentive, industrious girl, talented with polished manners”. The school motto was ‘Always do The Right’ which she clearly embraced throughout her life.
In September 1956, she left Ifo with her mother and stepfather - Chief Isaac Oluwole Delano to board a ship (The Aureol). On 5th October 1956, following a journey that lasted two weeks at sea - stopping in Ghana and Sierra Leone, they reached the shores of Liverpool, England.
She started to study to become a nurse, but those plans soon changed when in 1960 she met and married Mr Samuel Obafemi Olujinmi. In 1961, their first child - Olajumoke was born followed a year later by the first son of the family - Olalekan.
Princess Esther soon discovered she could turn her hands to most things. She just loved cooking and often catered for others.
She loved to learn and enrolled herself on a number of Catering courses at college, whilst working and raising her growing young family. She put her culinary skills to use when hosting many family and friends from back home (Nigeria/Africa). Her house was often the hub of the family, the meeting place! She had remarkable hospitality skills and was a real lover of giving to others. Be it by the way of information to a person looking lost or shelter and food for friends and family in need. Her last address didn’t change for over 40 years (10 Barnes Court), and everyone knew if they knocked on her door that she would welcome visitors with open arms no matter how long since their last meeting.
In later years, she loved to travel, known for taking trips to Nigeria, America, France, Dubai, Austria, just to name a few, mainly to support family weddings and other events. As her years grew so did her family, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and great nephews and nieces; her arms were never too short to wrap around the worldwide family.
Mama enjoyed spending most of her time caring for some of her grandchildren attending weekly church services with them and supporting school work and watching them perform extra-curricular activities. Mum was a fun loving person and at family gatherings she was the life and soul of the party. She enjoyed shopping for a bargain, playing Sudoku word games and sharing general knowledge facts with the family. She would often quiz members of the family, on random general knowledge questions and relished the thought that she knew something they didn’t!
1 of 9
Set free...
2 of 9
The family
3 of 9
Ejiro, Peyi and Lekan Olujinmi by the grave site
4 of 9
Wole, Ejiro, Lekan, Peyibomi & Pelumi Olujinmi
5 of 9
Dr Michaela Cameron, Ejiro Olujinmi, Feyitola Fadina, Mummy Mrs Angela Cameron and Lekan Olujinmi
6 of 9
Niyi & Danni Olaleye, Yinka Bolaji, Ejiro & Lekan OLujinmi, Mrs Sabrina Omodele and Amire Ben Salmi
7 of 9
VIP Guest Chief Olujimi DaSilva, Mrs Funlayo Sheinman (From Mr S O A Olujinmi family) and others enjoy celebration of life
8 of 9
Dawda Njie, Rosemary Gbinwa Daanwi, Iyabo Odumosu and Lekan Olujinmi - Class of 1978
9 of 9
Femi and Yinka Sowunmi
She was a real woman of substance and spoke freely, always being principled, to tell the truth no matter how bitter. She became very well known for her humorous WhatsApp messages that were shared worldwide. She was also a woman of compassion and did not hold malice and instantly forgave. She would often start a frank conversation: “I’m sorry, but I just have to say it…” She prided herself on her manners, which she demonstrated from a young age, and would give the same respect to elders as she would to children.
Princess Esther Folashade Adetoun (Olufuwa) Thomas loved to knit and in recent years had knitted the characters of the nativity story, which is now displayed every Christmas at her church - The Drive Methodist Church, Ilford, Essex. She also listened to Premier Christian Radio, making sure no night would go by without switching on her radio before she slept, so that she could listen to hymns and Bible readings whilst she drifted off to sleep.
Her final “Sleep” was no different and her children saw her for the last time laying in her bed on that Sunday (11th February 2018) morning, with ‘How Great Thou Art’ playing in the background.
Laid to rest in April, she was survived by 5 Children, 19 Grandchildren and 6 Great Grandchildren.