I knew Hazel and her children as a child myself while living at Moore Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria. For some reason, memories of her came to me today and I told my daughter about her. My daughter decided to google her name and lo and behold, we found her online. Unfortunately she passed last year. May her angelic soul rest in perfect peace in the Lord's bosom.

Ms Hazel was the wind beneath my wings for many years. She did more for me personally than Words can ever express....she helped me raise my daughter ,Kallee. Lastly you know how strong of a woman she is by the results achieved by the children that benefited from her guidance. They all turned out to be role models to our society. Bless you my child. Love you too Ms. Ida.

Mum,
 May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you now and forever more in Jesus name.(You and I say together at nights) Amen. Goodnight Mama

Dear Grandma,
Grace and peace to your family for the godly legacy you left behind. I clearly recall how impactful your words and presence were in my life growing up. I would visit your home and learn about good manners and respect for my elders. Those lessons have been my companions through life, helping me become the person I am today. I will always remember you as beautiful, opinionated and hardworking. I bless God for your life!

Dear Auntie,
I have very fond memories of you
..... I remember at church of God mission starting from a room off mission road to government school opposite the then Kingsway stores to our first church premises on forestry road to Iyaro..... As a child growing up, you made Christmas super exciting . You wrote the scripts for the nativity plays, carols, costumes American spiritual songs etc.
..... The days we made ice cream with your magic ice cream machine.
.....Wedding plans for the late Archbishop Idahosa of blessed memory..... You swung into action as if he were your son organising the wedding cake, the bridal train and outfits.... Your VW was red....you made it so exciting.
..... You told stories of your childhood.... Such as when the carpet was being rolled up at home you knew there was going to be a party! You loved life!
..... When I visited you and the family in 2010 and you expressing your surprise at 'little baby Cherrida having these 3 big children'... They still tease me to this day.
... Dominoes...my daughter Sharon had the privilege of playing dominoes with you and was pleasantly surprised at your speed and calculation.... No one could beat you.
I could go on and on ......
You were a woman of many admirable attributes touching lives as you journeyed through life..... 
Rest in the Lord 'cos he has welcomed you as a good and faithful servant.
In a nutshell.... I would say in the marketplace of women you are priceless!

Dear Grandma, I am so honored to be your granddaughter. In the past month I have learned so much about all the love to gave and how you touched so many people's lives. But deeply I always knew how special you were. You always protected us, disciplined us, and closely watched over us. All this was done in love and laughter. I will miss your funny loud laugh and the crazy eyes you could give us if we did something wrong. And then you would even laugh at that. You kept us together through daily prayers, which we complained about as kids, but this really shaped who we are today. I loved when I would call home to talk to you from university and even New York and you would always ask me why I had to move away so far. It broke my heart but it made me realize that even amongst the other kids that were always around, you still missed me and found ways to make me feel special. I love you Grandma and will always think about you when my bracelets clink together.

Dear Grandma, its me again Osato, I just wanted to thank you for all the memories we shared together. I want to thank you for helping to raise me, for preparing healthy tasty meals, supporting my school activities, and sharing your faith with me. You took Puddy and I to countless church services and bible studies which helped develop our relationship with God. Most importantly thanks for showing me love while growing up. Even as a child I saw how your love for people extended past your family to outsiders and you made a difference in their lives. I loved that about you. Even as a child I was very protective of you, never wanting to leave you alone if I didn't feel you would be okay. I hope you liked the walking sticks I got you, which were used to threaten people. I hope you liked the personal trainer I got you to help you keep u strong. I know you didn't like the exercises but the personal trainer came to love you and enjoy your company. I moved a little far away for awhile but I cherished coming back to spend time with you and helping you get whatever you wanted. I hope my love and gratefulness for you  was shown through our relationship. Now you have moved a little further away from me but I still feel you close by.I believe God partly kept you alive for so long was so you could be a blessing to me. I'm thankful that we will meet again where we can hang out, eat, laugh and sing chorus. Luv ya. Miss ya.

Hazel Obamwonyi was indeed an ambassador for Christ. She was a rare gem to  humanity especially to the Obamwonyis and Benin City, she was a mother to all. With the zeal of evangelism in her she preached Christ to all she came across. She nurtured so many including students and family members. She nurtured the late Archbishop Idahosa from a baby christian as a younger brother who became well known in Christianson a a great man of God. The students she touched their lives have also become soldiers of Christ as pastors. She nurtured Obamwonyis children as her one biological children all children were the same before her. I will mention this because honor must be given to who honor is due. Andrew and Shelia (RIP) were nurtured from infancy and where sent to private primary school with her own money. She was selfless to God and humanity. To those she she left behind we say adieu until we meet to part no more and to the heavens with open hands saying welcome home

There are no words that I can write to do justice unto my gratitude and love for my Grandma. Let alone give words to express my loss. Grandma, I am who I am because of you, plain and simple. You raised me as a baby, and then raised me as a young man when my mother passed, and here I stand as I am because of your love for me. You were never rich but lavished me with so much love that I always assumed that you had everything I could ever need if I were to ask (and often I did, even when I probably shouldn't have, at times). I will keep my words few because honest appropriate words about you would never end, and so in this "guestbook" I ultimately state: my words and thoughts of you, Grandma, will remain in my heart, under my words, and along my every thought for the rest of my life. Thank you for always being with me, Grandma.

Love always,

Your first grandchild, Collins I. Aki

Oh mummy I remember her way back in AGGS. She was like a mother to all the students. I often thought about her and others alike who contributed one way or the other to my life, not knowing that she was just 2 hours drive away from Houston. Anyways, my condolence to the family and  may her soul rest in perfect peace. Esther "Ehiemua" Okunade, class of '77

You are worth remember for life a great woman my role model you were the best teacher mother rest in peace mummy ,You are worth remember for life a great woman my role model you were the best teacher mother rest in peace mummy from charity Obamwonyi

To God be the glory. Mummy has  fought a good fight, ran the race and can now receive the crown of a faithful woman. I remember Mummy as a true child of God, caring ,sharing, loving and never afraid to air her views. She has now gone on to glory land. She never missed the 6am service at CAC Olihia  Qtrs, on her way back home she would go out evangelizing distributing tracts to people on the streets. She was always available. On behalf of my family I must say thank you mummy for always praying for me when I was faced with challenges. Thank you for giving me my first job when I was in high school which was washing clothes, not yours ,not your kids but one of the kids you helped to have a better life. Your favorite morning devotion song will always ring in my ears "Am on my way to glory land" and".... am so glad that Jesus is the way." Mummy we love you but Jesus loves you more. Rest in peace Goodnight.  
  Baby from London.

Dear grandma,
Thank you for being the one place I could always find love, the one place I could always count on to be surrounded by Jesus, and the one place where I could always be happy. You taught me how to read, you taught me how to drive, you taught me how to be a good parent, and you taught me how to pray. There aren't enough words to describe what you mean to me, so I'm going to keep it brief; " One glad morning, when this life is over, I'll fly away to a land with gods celestial shores, I'll fly away." 

Love,
Chester

I just dont know how to feel ... I learned so much from you . when i started this was just a job. At the begining i didnt know i was the one who had to keep up with you. I came in every day for a week in a half you asked me , Who are you?? You never remembered my name but i was for sure a familiar face . You loved sitting next to me , you read me the same book cover every day over and over . you argued with me over my hand i held your hand every day since the first day i met you and you always said it was your hand when i tried to move it you would say what are you doing its mine.. When u stoped talking i hated i would no longer hear your voice or u threatening me saying you would Dash me in my Head with your cane . you always made me laugh . you always admired my hair you asked me about 50 times if i was indian i learned to say yes because if i didnt you would say why not and i didn't know what to answer you. When you stoped walking i hated it i could no longer chase you to the door or ur favorite place the kitchen. You always had an appetite no matter what. For our walks it was hard to get you back inside i had to brib you with crackers those wr ur favorite. We sat on the porch eating the pecans we had just picked up from our walk. We sang xmas songs in the summer . we sang amazing grace well we at least tried because i would wait for you to help me finish singing it but not even half way into it we both would stop because we didnt remembered the rest of the words .. For your excersize i had to tuff it out because i really thought i would feel you Dash me with ur stick as u would say.. You would get so mad at me because i made u do excersize. you said u wernt a child to be doing such things you would say whats wrong with you. For years i was ur care giver and thats what i was till the end i really cared for you and i loved giving my best when i was with you i learned to love you as my own family you were a grandmother , mother ,you were my very best friend my mind will always be set to come to ur house and look after you it was hard to hear you were no longer with us that i would see you anymore but i also understand you no longer hurt u can now rest with out me going and waking you up to eat or shower or change you can r just to turnyou. You will forever be in my heart . you leave me great memories .. you can now R.I.P Mrs.Hazel...

Dear Mommy, 

I thank you for all that you have done for me, my children, and my entire family. I learned a lot from you. You will remain a blessing and inspiration to me and the entire Aki family in the United States, Nigeria, and in other parts of the world. 

You will always be alive in my heart forever!! 

Love,
Your son, Charles Aki


Grandma was a strong woman with a good heart .
I will never forget her acceptance and several words of wisdom she shared with myself and many people that she knew.
Let the Angels rejoice of the reception of this kindly servant 
Amen!

Grandma thank you for sharing with me advice in being a wife and a mother. You will truly be missed and
Remembered.

I knew you from afar as Deaconess Obamwonyi but later and more closely to my delight as Mummy. Even at old age you showed your soundness of spirit and commitment to the Lord in an unshakable way.
You were a woman of faith and great determination. This made you well accomplished in many ways. 
Rest in the bosom of the Lord Mummy.  Clint Uwadiae. UK

You were always a joy to come see, and had a great beautiful presence about you. Thank you for welcoming me into your home and helping take care of me. I love you and will miss you.

Mummy (as we fondly call you), I write this tribute with fun memories.  You were not just a teacher but a mother, and a friend.  You taught us science, dance, and drama.  You opened your doors to us and we walked in freely.  You fed us.  Your generosity is unsurpassed.  You taught us how to pray.  Above us, you taught us to love Christ.  I thank you for winning souls to Christ by whose grace we live.  You have not gone to Him empty handed.

Mummy, my family and I say farewell.  I 
will forever be grateful to you.  Heaven has welcomed home a saint.  Rest well.

Auntie Hazel as she was fondly called. A very dear friend to my mother and our family. I say no more because Stella has described the woman she was. May I add that she was a woman of great strength, tenacity and endurance. God was her solid rock. She lived to be 97 and she deserved every bit of those years. She touched so many lives. Rest Auntie rest.

Words can not express my loving kindness towards you. You took me and raised me as one of your owe. You fed me, loved me and for that, I will ever be greatful. It was a privilege and a blessing having you as my unique step mother. With all my love rest in peace "mummy" until we meet again. One and only Vio. Love you!

Mother Obamwonyi, you will forever be remembered for your love of Christ. You were a tireless warrior for His message here on earth. I know that our heavenly father has received you into His bosom.
Adieu mother and teacher!

My dear loving Grandma,
 To have known you was a blessing, to have served you was an honor. I know you are in a better place and we will meet again. Your loving Grandchild Osato Cynthia.

OBITUARY

Hazel Joyce Obamwonyi

11 November, 1917 – 24 September, 2015

Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery

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