OTAMPA COMMUNITY IN JOS, JOINS THE OKORO’S FOR THE ONE YEAR MEMORIAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE OF MAUREEN CHINYERE OKORO.

By our Reporter

Some members of the ODU, Jos. Women's Wing

The members of Otampa Development Union (ODU), Jos Branch, on Sunday, 24th of September 2017, joined the family of Mr. Gabriel Okoro, on a memorial thanksgiving Church Service.

The occasion was the one year memorial thanksgiving Church service, organized in honour of Mrs. Maureen Chinyere Okoro, who departed to the great beyond, on 24th of September 2016. Until her death she was the Chairlady of the Women’s Wing of ODU, Jos Branch.

Led by the Chairman of ODU, Men’s Wing, Mr. Nnabugwu Chizoba, and supported by the Chairlady of the Women’s Wing, Mrs. Ogudu Ngozi, and the entire members of both the Men and Women’s Wing, the Otampa Community members, known in Jos, for their unflinching support, solidarity and commitment to all matters relating to her members, came out in mass to honour the Soul of the late member, and to seek God’s guidance, protection and provisions for her family.

Gabriel Okoro (Left), (In-law: Middle) and the Children

The memorial Thanksgiving Church Service, took place on Sunday, the 24th of September, 2017, at the St. Andrews’s Anglican Church, Anglo-Jos, in Jos, the Plateau state capital.

Apart from the Otampa Community members, the memorial thanksgiving church service, indeed attracted a mammoth crowd that includes the Christian faithful from the Anglican Community and numerous other denominations operating in Plateau state and beyond.

Preaching at the memorial thanksgiving service, the Vicar of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Anglo-Jos, Rev. Panshak P. Panbish, extolled the good virtues of Late Mrs. Okoro, whose memorial service date of 24th of September, 2017, incidentally coincided with the date that she joined her ancestors (24 September, 2016).

Speaking about death, Rev. Panshak P. Panbish, said:

“Death does not respect any man. It does not fear any tribe or have regard for any body’s status. Death does not care how well fed or how well maintained you are. Many are dead, who look good, nourished, well catered for and healthy”.

The Vicar, therefore, called on the congregation to emulate the way of Christ by following His footsteps.

Continuing, the Rev. paid glowing tribute to the Soul of the departed. He recounted the good attributes of late Mrs. Okoro Chinyere Maureen, who according to him devoted her time and resources to the service of the Church and humanity. He also drew the attention of the church to the good and inspiring testimonies given by people when he visited Otampa Community, the hometown of Mrs. Okoro for her burial ceremony and interment. Otampa is a community, in Isuikwuato LGA, of Abia state.

In a related development, the Women’s leader of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Anglo-Jos, who spoke at the memorial Thanksgiving Church Service, noted:

“Late Mrs. Okoro, was a great mobiliser and coordinator, who devoted her time to ensure that the work of the Church and the service of the Almighty reign supreme, during her lifetime.

“She was a source of inspiration to all in the Church. She was a huge support to all the activity groups.

“When we got the news of her demise, we were dumbfounded. It was a huge shock. One of the questions on everybody’s lip was who will be a replacement for our dear, loving and hardworking mother and friend of all”.

Before the memorial thanksgiving church service, came to a close, the Otampa Community, in Jos, joined the Church to pray for the family of Mr. Gabriel Okoro, (the husband), who the church recognized earlier during the church service as a caring, loving and supportive husband. The church also prayed for the continued repose of Mrs. Okoro Chinyere, who until her death on the 24th of September, 2016, was a wife, mother, and member of the ODU, Jos. She was servicing as the Chairlady of the Women’s Wing, when she succumbed to the cold hands of death.

The ODU, Jos, and other members of the congregation, before parting from the occasion that also took them to the premises of the Okoro’s, were warmly treated to a very delicious, well prepared and beautifully served refreshment.

The Leader of the ODU, Jos and Chairman of the ODU Men's Wing, Mr. Nnabugwu Chizoba, before living the Okoro's, thanked the head of the family, Mr. Gabriel for the sumptuous meal and for inviting ODU, Jos to the event. He also encouraged him not to despair, noting the Almighty always have of a way sustaining His beloved, at moments of loss. He concluded by saying:

“May the Soul of Mrs. Okoro Chinyere Maureen and the Soul of all the faithful departed through the mercy of the Almighty Lord, rest in perfect Peace. Amen!