Nana Agyeiwaa Okodie

OBITUARY OF THE LATE NANA AGYEIWAA OKODIE (kokofu pranko hemaa)

"Acts 13:36a: After serving God and her generation, she rested with her fathers"

Nana Agyeiwaa Okodie, who was also known as Cecilia Agyeiwaa, was born on June 14, 1930 in Ashanti Region, Mensase-Kokofu to Opanin Kwabena Asubonteng and Madam Yaa Tiwaah. Among her seven siblings, Nana Agyeiwaa was the sole surviving child of the late Yaa Tiwaa. She did not have any formal education but attended adult night school where she learnt basic English. At the age of 15, she became a seamstress and learned to sew traditional outfits, subsequently engaging in the trade of traditional clothing and household items. Furthermore, she designed and sewed school uniforms for the students in Mensase, and baptism attires and yearly Christmas outfits for many people in her community. To further support her family, she engaged in basic farming. She was also known for her hairdressing. In time, she quickly became known and respected in all Mensase for her work throughout the community and in her home.
She was married to Mr. T.K Serbeh, who is also from Mensase. T.K. served as a general contractor who was based in both Wa and Bolga, the north and upper regions of Ghana. Nana was blessed with five maternal children: Namely; Serwaa(Comfort), Birago(Olivia), Osei(Emanuel), Boakye(Justice), and Tiwaah(Abigail), in addition to one beloved adopted son Yaw- Awiri. Nana also provided a home base environment, with support and nurturing, to additional family members including Akuaawi, Akosua Konamah, Ammah Owusaa, Ammadapaah and Aunty Auttahh and her children. Nana in addition provided a comfortable environment for her brother's children: Sister Sefaa, Tiwaa, Serwaa, Afua, and lastly brother John. Furthermore, she mentored young men to adulthood such as Gyapong, Gyeikyei, Jones, and Abraham plus many more. And, she loved and supported her Abusuapanin Yaw George. Her home was open to anyone who needed counselling and support throughout her village and beyond.

Nana was a pioneer and played a major role in initiating, organizing, and maintaining the current Presbyterian Church, which is the oldest church in Mensase. She served as a board member, consultant, and hospitality leader who helped orient new ministers and teachers to the Presbyterian school -an extension of the church-until they felt comfortable in the town. She belonged to the women's fellowship group, the singing band, the choir, the prayer team, and served as a counselor, women's advocate, and role model for upcoming girls in the church and village. She was a true woman of faith and raised her children in the church.

During the 80s, her uncle J.K Bawuah because of her in-depth knowledge in solving dicey and complex situations and her generous love for mankind decided to enstool her as the Queenmother, that is a title given to a leader of an entire patrilineal and matrilineal family ancestral lineage, which in her case includes family in Mensae, Kumasi, Aburaso, Aduam, Ankaase, and Suyani- cities and towns throughout Ghana. As Queenmother, Nana was required to join the other Queens in Kokofu, where she was soon nominated as the Pranko Hemaa: A liaison between her district of Kokofu and the Ashanti Queen in Kumasi (region).

In 1992, shortly after the birth of their third child, Kofi, Nana visited her daughter, Oliva Sarkodie who was in her final year of nursing school and her husband Amaning Sarkodie who was a second year medical student in Dayton, OH. She quickly realized that her help was needed and decided to stay and to help raise all her grandchildren: Kwame, Ofori, Kofi, and (eventually) Mimi Sarkodie. She was an irreplaceable part of the family, and over the next 28 years, she proceeded to help raise the children and aid her daughter around the home, serving as another guiding light, source of wisdom, and adult figure for the children to learn from. Her unconditional love and warm embrace did not stop there however, as numerous friends, family members, and often friends of her grandchildren, kids from multiple ethnic backgrounds and experiences who collectively go by the name "shadowkats" and who regularly came by the home experienced that same love and kindness firsthand. (Each especially loved Nana's fufu and Jalof rice!) Nana would continue to show her love and selfless support for her family. Even after her grandchildren reached adulthood,she would periodically visit the U.S. to see them. During her stay and visits in the U.S, Nana especially loved to read her bible, pray, sing, talk to people, and attend the Unity Church of Dayton with her daughter. Moreover, she loved to watch Steve Harvey's Family Feud, Judge Judy, Martin Lawrence, Fresh Prince of Bellaire, Family Matters, Oprah Winfrey, Tia and Tamera ( "I watched them grow," as she put it), Mr. Rogers, The Golden Girls, and the Reading Rainbow.

Sadly, battling an onset of pneumonia, Nana Agyeiwaa Okodie, age 89 of Dayton, Ohio, symbolically made her transition with Christ, on Easter morning: Sunday, April 12, 2020 at Miami Valley Hospital. She is preceded in death by her parents; Opanin Kwabena Asubonteng and Madam Yaa Tiwaah; siblings, all seven siblings; and child; Boakye "Justice". She will be missed by her loving children, Olivia Serbeh Sarkodie, Abigail Serbeh, Comfort Serbeh and Emmanuel Osei Serbeh; grandchildren Kwame Sarkodie, Ofori Sarkodie, Kofi Sarkodie, Mimi Sarkodie, Nat Osei, Desmond Serbeh; and many nieces, nephews, and family.

Our hearts go out to her beautiful soul, and we take consolation in the fact that "in all things give thanks to the lord". And so, we are thankful to have experienced such a wonderful, loving, beautiful, kind soul. She will forever have a lasting impact on all those who knew her.

Nana, Cecilia, Mother, Grandmother, Friend, Sister, Daughter, Auntie, Queen-mother, we will forever remember you because you were our Angel!

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