•Mrs Arthur Worrey Photo: Sun News Publishing

Woman of the Sun Index

You meet 81 years old Madam Funke Arthur-Worrey at her Victoria Island, Lagos, residence. The woman who has just lost her husband of 54 years ironically is in high spirits. Many expected the reverse to be the case but for her it is a different story.

"He left me with so much love and happiness. He would not want to see me weep, cry or mourn", she says.
Still very energetic, Mama is everywhere this afternoon. As you are speaking with her, she beckons on standby caterers and attendants who would then ask you what you want to eat. While trying to make sure her visitors are all comfortable, a group of women trooped in to condole with the bereaved family.
The widow stood up to welcome her guests. They hugged, held onto each other and also patted each other on the back. The guests have all come to pay their condolences.

In-between consoling words like ‘Sorry ma’, ‘God is your strength’, ‘He lived a fulfilled life’, Arthur-Worrey apologized to have kept you waiting. "Sorry, my daughter, I will soon be with you, just give me a little time".

The interview begins and in a very emotional way, she recalls her husband’s last moments. "When we came back from Europe by the end of September last year, he was happy and we were together. I could see that he was a bit low. Then I teased him, Daddy, you are now like PHCN, this moment your voltage will increase, the next moment your voltage will reduce. But he just laughed over it. He didn’t want to make us sad at all.

"Then, he was on and off until that fateful day. He woke up, got dressed and we went to see the doctor together for his routine check-up. That day he was admitted and slept like a baby. I remember that his face looked fresher and younger on the hospital bed. From that sleep, he passed on and did not wake up again.

"Tears dropped from my eyes, though they were tears of joy. He lived a beautiful life. I am very happy to have married and lived with him all these years".

Then she remembered her cousin in England who turned 90 that same day. She quickly flips through the pages of her diary to fish out her number and wish her a happy birthday.
The interview session resumes and she goes on to talk about some memorable moments shared together. Now that he is no more, what will he be remembered for? "Life without him is difficult. I am already in a trance, but I am happy he died a happy man. The doctors and nurses in that hospital confirmed he was a loving and not a difficult patient. I know that where he is right now, he would not want people around him to be sad.

"He had love and shared it with people around him. I will always remember the fond memories we shared with our son’s friends then. When we were at Ikoyi, my son Fola who is now the Solicitor General of Lagos State and Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice was in King’s College. His daddy was his mathematics teacher and from there his friends will come and learn too."
"Daddy became their lesson teacher. They all did lesson, played football, climbed trees and swam together. That period turned all Ikoyi children into one happy family. Those little boys then are all over the world now."

So, what will Mama miss? "I will remember him for the rest of my life with love. I will miss his companionship, his petting even in old age. He spoilt me to the point of being rotten. I got all I wanted. He will tell me ‘Darling, consider it done’. When I feel low, he will tell me in a sweet and loving manner, ‘what you are going through now, so many have seen and overcome it, so why feel low?"

Mama is willing to go on and on praising her late husband, Chief Steady Arthur-Worrey who died at the age of 87. "I have a lot to miss about him after living with him for 54 solid years." The lovebirds met in Chief H O. Davies house when young Arthur-Worrey had just returned from London. One thing led to another and they got married at St. Pancras Registry Office, England in 1954. They were blessed with two children, Fola and Abiola of blessed memory.