Surusegun Tinuade Dawodu

Age 88, of Ramsey

Translated to higher glory on 5/27/2021

Survived by her Children, Grandchildren and many Loved Ones.

Homegoing Service will be at 12noon on Friday, June 18, 2021 at

Gearhart Anoka Funeral Home (552 East River Road, Anoka, MN)

Visitation 11am until time of service.

Reception strictly by invitation only will be Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 5pm at Coon Rapids Civic Center located at 11155 Robinson Dr, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.

THIS IS MY STORY

Authored by: Surusegun Tinuade Togunwa Dawodu

Parentage

I was born into the family of Sokoya Eleshin of Agbowa Sagamu on Second of June 1933 by Ezekiel Adebayo Sokoya and Juliana Olabowale Adegboyega.

Both parents were teachers at one point or the other, in-fact my father taught at the school my mother attended – The famous Oko Wesleyian Methodist School, Sagamu Ogun State Nigeria.

I was born into a Methodist Congregational Family, both parents held various positions in Church until their demise.

The paternal grandmother Jemimah Sole was from the Sofowora family in Ikenne while the father Sole was from Owode Egba. Paternal grandfather George Sokoya was from Agbowa and Odugboro -The Liyangu Ruling House of Saganmu, Ogunstate Nigeria.

Maternal grandmother Janet Efunranmowo was the daughter of Oba (King) Erinwole the First in Sagamu while the mother was from Ekiti-Asibi. Maternal grandfather James Alli Adegboyega was from Epe in Sagamu.

Story Completed by Family:

The first of six siblings, our Mother Surusegun Tinuade (Tinu) Dawodu grew up in a communal setting with her cousins and relatives of royal lineage.

She attended Wesley School, Oko, Sagamu in January 1938, and proceeded to the prestigious Sagamu Girls’ School in January 1941, for her primary education and later went on to Remo Secondary school in January 1947; before transferring to the Methodist Girls High School (MGHS) in Lagos to complete her Secondary Education in December 1951. For her post-secondary, she went to the United Missionary College (UMC), Ibadan for the 2-year Pivotal Teacher Training Course from January 1952 to December 1953. Through a Federal Government Scholarship, she attended a 3-year Physical Education Training at Lady Mabel College, Sheffield England, from September 1957 to June 1960.

Upon return to Nigeria, she married Akindunni Dawodu of Itumode Sagamu, a Hospital/Medical Health Administrator in 1962. They lived in Ibadan Oyo State Nigeria.

“Sister Tinu” (as she was fondly called) pursued a profession in Sports Administration starting off as an educationist at Queen’s School Ede in 1960 then became an Education Inspector at the Ministry of Education on Leaf Road, Ibadan.

Upon graduation from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Oyo State she was reassigned to Queen’s School Ibadan as Physical Education Teacher from where she relocated to the then newly created Ogun State championing the course of women in sports to become the first female Director of Sports in Nigeria – leading her state to great heights as well as chaperoning the country’s teams to several Olympics. This was the pinnacle of her professional career where she retired from active public service.

Coming from staunch Christian background, Sister Tinu thus became a strong member and leader in each church where she worshipped both in Nigeria and wherever else she lived. Her Pillar of support was Christ and Christ alone to the very end. She was a pillar of strength and encouragement to her Children, Grandchildren and Family. A virtuous woman who believed and lived her life actively in service of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though through struggles in life, she stood grounded in her faith till her last breath (singing and humming hymns). She was fully fledged in church planting, leading women’s fellowships, being a part Bible study groups. Her life was and continues to be a testimony of the Lord’s steadfastness in the lives of all.

Generations coming behind her would call her blessed for she evangelized, shared her experiences in life and extended sincere love to all. She would be fondly remembered as “Nana” – Dear to our hearts always.

A caring, dutiful, loving, selfless Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, well done! Your memory remains sweet forever. Take your well-earned rest.