Mrs. Jessie Stella Ama Aboagyewa Yaasi (nee Martinson)

Mrs. Jessie Stella Aboagyewa Yaasi (nee Martinson) was born in a neighborhood in Accra Ghana called Palladium on Saturday, January 16th 1943 to Mr. Francis Ensius Adu Martinson of the Adomfode clan of Larteh and Mrs. Joana Elizabeth Amy Martinson (nee Abaidoo) of Anomabo and Accra, both of blessed memory. She was the first of six children.

In 1943, she was baptized at Praetereus Presbyterian Church (presently PCG Resurrection Congregation, Makola, Accra) and confirmed while schooling at Aburi Secondary School. She grew to become a regular and active member of the Resurrection Congregation and held several positions in the church including President of the YPG. Thereafter, she maintained her membership as a distant member. She continued to keep her membership at Resurrection Congregation until she moved to Washington DC, USA.

Auntie Jessie, as she is affectionately called, had her elementary education at Bishop Girls’ School in Accra and proceeded to Aburi Girls Secondary School in 1957, and obtained her O’level certificate in 1961.

After secondary school, she was employed by Barclays Bank High Street Branch Accra Ghana as a teller. It was in the days of no computers where account activities were researched in the ledger room before executing a transaction. She proved to be an outstanding teller and was therefore moved to the ledger room. She excelled in the ledger room and was put in charge of the Barclays Bank foreign exchange unit, Ambassador Hotel Accra. In this role, she trained a number of colleagues in the proper managing of a foreign exchange unit. One would say she did so well at the Ambassador Hotel, that she was put in charge of the unit at the new Star Hotel.

She left for the United States in 1971, where she was married and started a family. She was blessed with her daughter, Joana, in 1972 and another daughter, Francesca, followed in 1974.

Jessie started working in the USA as a Dining Hostess at Marriot Hot Shoppes on New Hampshire Ave in Hillandale, MD. When they got to know that she was good at figures, they dropped the daily, weekly, and monthly sales computations in her lap. In no time, she rose to be an Assistant Manager. She did not stay long with Hot Shoppes as she joined the Accounts Receivables Section of the American Chemical Society’s head office in Washington DC. Jessie had a stellar career there for 30 years; receiving many accolades and achieving the outstanding employee award. Upon retirement from ACS, she worked as an independent Geriatric Caregiver. She was very much loved by her patients due to her kind and caring nature.

Also, Jessie had other hobbies outside of her professional career such as sales, event planning, floral arrangements, and decorations. She participated in numerous cultural and social organizations, notably the founding President of the United Women of Ghana.

During this time, she was blessed with her first 3 grandchildren: Angelique, Kwabena and Abena, who were literally 2 weeks apart. In the next 10 years, four more grandchildren: Christina, Edem, Elom, and Mary Janae rounded out her complete bunch. She proudly saw 3 graduate from college. In the early 2000’s she finally decided to retire completely and enjoy many years of travel for family and church activities.

She is survived by her husband, Mr. Robert Yaasi, her two daughters and seven grandchildren, as well as a host of loving family members and friends.

The extended Martinson and Freeman families thank the Good Lord for her life and for sharing her with us. The Lord provides in times of need and takes away at His determination. We pray that the Lord looks after you and those who have gone ahead of you until we meet again.

Rest in perfect peace.