It was an honour well deserved as Madame Theresa Virginia Enisuoh was committed to mother earth amidst pomp and pageantry in the dreamy community of Agbere, in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
Madam Enisuoh is the mother of Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director, Operations and Technical Services at Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL).
At the funeral service which took place at St Peter’s Catholic Church Agbere, Bayelsa State, the officiating Priest Reverend Father Cletus Okonkwo, charged the congregants to see death as a price everyone must pay and as such imbibe a lifestyle of righteousness before God.
He eulogised the many attributes of the departed Madam Theresa popularly called Mama Nurse which was evident in the huge number of people that came to pay their last respect to her.
“I don’t think Mama is a woman of war, she was a woman of love, if she was a woman of war, I don’t think people like this would come. You know what? If she had been somebody that is causing katakata, I don’t think the family would have been united to give her this type of burial.
“My dear brothers and sisters, you don’t know where you will meet Jesus. Today is Mama’s turn. Tomorrow is whose turn? It may either be mine or yours.
“For this burial, much emphasis is on the merriment that goes with it. These things are perfectly good for the living but they will not take you to heaven,” he charged the congregation.
From the funeral mass to the internment and later the reception, it was a display of splendour, elegance and class as Captain Enisuoh’s impact across the length and breadth of Nigeria came to the fore with the arrays of Nigerians that came to felicitate with a man whose footprints transcend the boundaries of the Niger-Delta where he comes from.
From the gigantic dome-shaped auditorium, rich adornment of purple and white picture walls, garlands of off white, lilac, and powder pink decoration and aesthetic scenery, everything oozed class!
From the funeral mass, the athletic pall bearers carried the mahogany and golden casket that contained the remains of Madam Theresa and with dancing and a show of athleticism, they bore the casket to the family compound of Madam Theresa where she was laid to rest.
From there, the entourage proceeded to the reception venue where dignitaries from different walks of life were seated to felicitate with Captain Warredi who is the eldest child of Madam Theresa.
Captain Warredi entered the dome to a rapturous welcome while he went round the tables to greet his esteemed guests.
The occasion was well attended by government officials from Bayelsa States, the top echelon of TSSNL, friends from the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) where he was an Executive Director before his retirement, traditional rulers from Gbaramatu Kingdom, members of the maritime media, led by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) and the locals who thronged the venue of the ceremony in a rare show of love and solidarity with the bereaved family.
It was also an occasion of emotional and stirring tributes as friends, relatives, and close family of Mama Nurse queued up to pay tributes to a woman known for her penchant of promoting peace and show of love.
In his tribute, Captain Warredi in an emotional laden voice told the audience that though her passing shocked him a lot, it was her life that impacted him the most.
He regaled the audience about how his mother reminds him of all the girls he has dated and how much fun he used to have taking her out on Mother’s Day for shopping.
“I used to find fun in going to Canada to take her out on Mother’s Day. That attached us so well and she reminds me of all the girls I’ve dated in my life; all the girls. She loved shopping. When we go to the shop, she’ll pick this and pick this and pick that and I’ll ask her, Mum, who is going to pay for all of this? She’ll say, shut up, you’ll pay.
“I’ll keep thinking, I hope this bill is not going to exceed my credit card. So, you know, we had a very, very great time. Her passing shocked me a lot, but it was her life that impacted me.
“She encouraged me so much. She showed me love, patience, tenacity, even through the trial. She stayed there to encourage me that, look, better days are coming and you only go through challenges to be able to handle those better days. I’ll never forget her,” he concluded to a resounding ovation.
Similarly, Late Madam Enisuoh’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Chinazor Enisuoh, explained that the deceased was her confidant and a strong source of strength during turbulent periods in her marriage. She continued by saying that while the deceased has gone to be with God, she would continue to treasure and uphold her words of advice and encouragement.
She recounted how the first word that came out of Mama’s mouth to her when they met for the first time was “I love you.”
Her words: “I am a daughter-in-law to mama like I always called her. She never saw me during the early years of my marriage. We kept talking on the phone. When she came to Nigeria was the first time I met her. I used to have a challenge in my marriage at the time.
“She would always tell me, ‘If you continue to stay with these children, if you stay and take care of them, you will gain it.’ She would always call two days before our birthdays. She knows everyone’s birthday, including the children.
“You might even forget but she would remind you saying this child’s birthday is in two days’ time. Mum was the pillar I had that supported me. As I stand now, if there is anybody that would miss her the most, it’s me.
“There was this petty gossip we do together. She would say don’t tell anybody and I would say don’t tell anybody. I’d say it’s only you that I am telling and she’d say you can trust me. And we would seal it at that. It was the relationship.”
There was plenty to eat and drink while a troupe from Akwa Ibom thrilled the audience with delightful music and dance steps.