by Mitchelle Uzorka
Gracious God, the comfort of all who sorrow, the strength of all who suffer, hear the cry of those in misery and need. In their afflictions show them your mercy, and give us, we pray, the strength to bear this Loss.
A Service of Songs in Honour of Late Elder Lion (Mrs) Grace Ineke Ukwu at the Mary Slessor Cathedral, Portharcourt Parish, Rivers State, Nigeria, held in Nov. 16, 2022.
The Service was conducted by Rev. Ikechukwu Godwin Orji & Rev. Ikechukwu Anaga.
The Service started with an Opening prayer by Rev. Ikechukwu Godwin and a Praise section with members of the Mary Slessor Cathedral Parish and well wishers who came to condole with the bereaved family. Hymns were sang in Honour of Late Elder Lion Grace Ukwu and prayers were also said for the bereaved family.
An Exhortation Sermon tittled ‘ What are Your Legacies? ‘ was taken by Rev. Ikechukwu Godwin Orji and the occasion ended with a vote of thanks from the bereaved family.
Late Elder Lion (Mrs) Grace Ineke Ukwu was born on March 14th to Mr Fyneface Okposuogu ( of Edeoha, Ahoada East, Rivers State ) and his wife Madam Sarah James Obong ( of Creek Town, Cross Rivers State ).
She attended Use Primary School in Itu, Present day Akwaibom State and At 16 she got admission to study at women’s training College ( WTC ) Enugu.
On completion of her tertiary Education, Grace perfected plans with her childhood sweetheart and got married on January 30th, 1963 and they both moved to London to Futher their education. She returned gloriously to Nigeria and began work with NTA Markudi. Thereafter, she moved to work with an Italian construction company, ROCCON, still in Makurdi, Benue State. She also worked as a personal manager with A.C.M Nig.ltd, an indigenous oil servicing company in Portharcourt, Rivers State. In 1997. Spreading her tentacles, she ventured into the downstream sector of Nigeria’s oil industry, when she took on the dealership of a Texaco petrol station, a business her Husband Started.
She lost her husband in November 29th 1992 and took up the role of both father and Mother to her kids who by the way are 5 beautiful strong women.
Until her translation, she was a very active member of her Parish, a woman leader, a women’s guild president and patron of the boys brigade and PYPAN. she was the mother of Ruth House of the women’s guild and was made mother of the year in her Parish in 2007. On February 27th, 2011, she was ordained an Elder of the church.
She was a member of the Enugu Sports Club and the Portharcourt club. She was a member of the Soroptimist Club in Portharcourt, She also joined Lion Clubs International She identified with soci-cultural clubs, Arochukwu Social Club of Nigeria (ASCON) and Nzuko Inyom Aro.
The Service of Songs of Late Elder Lion (Mrs) Grace Ineke Ukwu was attended by members of Portharcourt Club, President of Portharcourt polo club, Chukwudi Dimkpa, family, friends and well wishers.
