Condolence Book
Memories & Words of Comfort
A space to share prayers, memories and warm words of comfort for Ms. Mavis Naomi Mills’ family
To our Beloved Mother
Today, we stand here with a heart filled with pain, gratitude, pride, and love as we honour the life of an extraordinary woman — our mother, friend, protector, teacher, and greatest supporter. Mum was a caring mother in every sense of the word.
She carried everyone’s burden as though they were her own. Her love was genuine, deep, and unconditional. She had a way of making people feel safe, welcome, and valued. You could approach her with anything because she was easy-going, thoughtful, compassionate, and always ready to support people without hesitation.
Mum was intelligent beyond words. She understood life deeply and could adapt to any standard of living without losing her dignity, values, or strength.
She remained focused, determined, and hardworking in whatever life threw at her. Mum was always moving, just like a river, emptying herself into friends and family. She was always working, planning, trying to make life better for her children and the people around her.
Education meant everything to her. She believed her children deserved the very best and pushed us with high standards and expectations. At times, we may not have fully understood her strictness, but today we understand it was all rooted in love. She wanted us to become responsible, respectful, and God-fearing adults.
Mum spoke her mind openly and honestly. She was vocal when necessary and could use harsh words when she believed it would correct or protect you. One thing we learned quickly was this: you could never go to war with Mum and expect to win. She always had an answer for the tough questions, and she never backed down from what she believed was right.
Her faith in God was undeniable. Mum loved God and made sure her children also loved and served Him. Even through health challenges, her faith remained strong.
As we watched her fight through pain and difficulties, it taught us that she was a true fighter, a woman who refused to accept defeat or settle for what people called “normal.” She never gave up.
Mum was also funny, full of life, and unforgettable in character. We miss her jokes, protection, courage, and friendship. We miss her food, calls, and little fights because they were part of the beautiful relationship we shared.
She accepted her children’s friends as her own. She treated them with respect and kindness. Supporting people came naturally to her. She had a unique way of helping others with intelligence, ease, and genuine compassion. She was charitable, thoughtful, and passionate about lifting others.
Mum protected us in ways we did not always understand. There were things she kept away from us simply because she wanted to shield us from pain. She worked tirelessly to give us the best life she possibly could. Every sacrifice she made came from love. One of the things we miss most is our unannounced visits, walking in and having long conversations with her. Mum taught us everything we needed to know. She was always willing to speak openly about her relationship with our dear father. Sometimes she would smile and say she missed our father whenever she saw her son display his charming character. She would say, “You look like your father.”
We’ve missed her calls, waving support, laughter, presence, strength, friendship, and voice.
From your only son
Henry Kwao
“Today, I am a proud son, brother, husband, and father because you gave me your very best and never gave up on mе. Everything good in me carries your fingerprints. I have missed our open conversations with no boundaries. Thank you, Mum, for your sacrifices, your prayers, your discipline, your love, and your unwavering faith.”
From your only Daughter
Henrietta Mannah
“Words cannot describe the loss I feel saying farewell to you, but heaven chose to give you wings, and now it’s time you flew. Thank you for being a second mother to my children; you bathed them, fed them, and took them to schooluntil they were old enough to care for themselves. You cared for me from my third trimester until I gave birth, and I will do the same for my daughter. Thank you for your endless patience, sacrifices, and quiet support. A silent thought, a secret tear keeps your memory ever near in my heart forever. Rest well, Mum. You fought a good fight. You loved deeply. You served faithfully. We will always love you.”
From Danetta Mannah
I wish I had more time, more time to talk to you, more time to spend with you, more time to even just hold your hand once more. All the nights I told myself I’d call you but woke up forgetting, all the afternoons I told you I’d come to visit but never came, because in my head, you were not leaving any time soon. I had taken the time we had together for granted, and before I knew it, you had been taken away from us. I could go on and on about how much I miss you, but that wouldn’t change anything. Instead, I want to dedicate my part of this speech to explain how amazing you were. Fortunately, I was blessed with the opportunity to grow up with you and have you in my life. Many young people grew up without knowing their grandparents, but you are a major part of who I am today. You took me to school; you kept me company when my parents were working; you did such a great job of bringing my brother and me up. For your 7oth birthday, I told you that you reminded me of this Bible verse, Proverbs 3:15: “She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare”. To me, nobody can replace who you were; you were kind, funny, and eager. You were always considerate of me, doing your best to make sure I was always happy, making sacrifices so that my cousins and I were having a good time. You would never forget me, always thinking of me wherever you go, and I would like to reciprocate that. Grandma, I will never forget you. You may not be here with us physically, but you will forever live in my heart. I know you would want me to move on and push myself even harder; I will not disappoint you. I know you are in a better place now,relieved of any pain or suffering you were experiencing, and that alone is comforting enough. Rest well, Grandma; I will always love you.
From Angelina Kwao
I will always cherish the memories I had with Grandma; she is such a hardworking person who never gives up. She never failed to make all of us smile, even if she wasn’t feeling great herself. I will always feel emotional when wee pass through Enfield, where she took us to the cinema and the market years ago, before we knew how it feels to lose someone you love so much. I will always cherish the memories of the four of us messing around, with her jokingly telling us off. She constantly showered me with gifts that I still treasure and use today, and she always did everything she could to keep our bond strong. I deeply regret the missed opportunities to call and visit her during school holidays like she always wanted. Even though she was taken from us far too soon, I am choosing to focus on the future and devote my life to making her proud. I love you, Grandma, and I always will.
From Evans Mannah Jr
Even though you’re not here with us, your voice echoes in my day-to-day activities. If I could, I would love to share one last moment with you. You were such a caring person; you would always put others first and would never fail to put a smile on my face. You were the best. All those memories we made will always have a place in my heart. Your humour was prodigious, always relating it to Ghana someway and somehow. It amazes me how you cared for all of us (Angel, Oscar, Danetta, and I). We were a handful, I must admit, but no matter the situation, you handled it with perfection. I remember that one Christmas, the 25th of December 2023; it was an unforgettable Christmas. All the jokes we shared and activities we played, they were just perfect. If I could see you again, the last thing I would ask for would be a hug. I love you, Grandma.
From Oscar Kwao
The things she was able to do for me were amazing. She cooked for us, took us to the movies, cracked jokes with us, and that is just to mention a few. We were four energetic kids, but she matched our energy. When she lived in her old house, we would all snuggle in her bed and watch Adom TV until late. No matter what anyone says,she is the greatest. Grandma taught us Ga. Back then we would sit on the floor while she taught us, typing the words, pronouncing them, and then translating them. Deep down, I still wish I could hear her again for one day. Maybe more. I miss you a lot.
Tribute to my mother-in-law by Mr. Evans Mannah
Today, we gather here to honour a woman whose presence shaped our lives in ways words can barely hold. When I first met my mother-in-law, I wasn’t sure what to expect, though we had spoken many times on the phone; but Awo is Awo, and anything is possible. We all have heard stories about in-laws, but what I found was someone kind, thoughtful, and quietly generous who welcomed me without hesitation, without judgement, and without conditions. Awo Babe. From the beginning, she made it clear that joining this family meant being included fully, which allowed our relationship to grow naturally and respectfully. Today I stand here reminiscing about the year 2000, how we celebrated our first Christmas Eve together in Shepards Bush with the last bottle of your RED wine. That night was fun and with lots of memories. Awo, you were not only part of my family, but you became part of my heart too, and my second mother. You shared family traditions, practical advice, and stories that helped me understand the history I had stepped into. Family traditions were never casual details to you; they were meaningful links between generations. As my mother-in-law, you took care to preserve customs and shared stories that gave our family a sense of continuity and belonging. Your support and presence made important transitions feel manageable rather than overwhelming. You were an amazing woman. You faced challenges with determination and composure, showing that resilience is built through steady efforts. The way you managed work-life and raised two incredible children is truly commendable and inspiring. It’s a privilege to have you as my mother-in-law; not only that, but you also gave me the most beautiful and intelligent woman as my wife. I can’t thank you enough for raising such a kind-hearted woman. I truly feel blessed. Thank you for the love you gave without expecting anything in return. You were our biggest lifesaver for the help you offered so willingly, staying with us for 6 years to look after your grandchildren. The love and care you showed every single day leaves a mark that will last a lifetime. To the world you might be a grandma, but to your grandchildren, and to us, you are the best. You touched more lives than you ever knew. Though words feel small, the love and respect remain. Gone from our sight but held in our hearts forever. Awo, you are missed! Rest well. You will always be remembered, and we wish you eternal peace and gratitude for the love you gave. Thank you!
They Say There Is a Reason – For Me, You Were Gone Too Soon Awo, words cannot fully describe the pain and sadness I feel as I say farewell to you. Although my heart wishes we had more time together, heaven has called you home, and it is now time for you to rest with our Maker. I wish God had allowed you to stay with us a little longer. There was still so much more I wanted to share with you, so many more conversations I wanted us to have, and so many more memories I wanted us to create. I will always remember the first time I met my mother-in-law. You welcomed me with a tender smile, warm hugs, and such genuine love. To my great delight, we began speaking in Ada, the language I speak. I was so happy and honoured to discover that you could speak my language. It felt as though God had given us something special to share from the very beginning. Awo, you were a loving, kind, God-fearing, hardworking, and caring woman. You always went the extra mile to be there for me and for others. Your love was not only expressed in words but through your actions, your sacrifices, and the way you cared for everyone around you. I especially remember how you were there for us when your grandchildren, Angel and Oscar, were born. When I was unwell, you stayed with us and cared for them. During those precious times together, you would advise me about marriage, raising children in the ways of God, supporting one another, and remaining committed to each other through every season of life. I will never forget one of your visits when you looked at us and said, “You and Henry have brought up the children very well, and they are respectful. Well done.” Those words meant so much to me. I was deeply grateful for your encouragement, and Iwill carry those words in my heart forever. Awo, I will always cherish the precious time we spent together. Thank you for your words of wisdom, your encouragement, and for being there for me during the difficult times in our marriage. Your advice and prayers meant more to me than I can ever put into words. Thank you for being there for all of us, especially for your grandchildren. Thank you for raising your son, Henry, to become the God-fearing man he is today. And thank you for opening your heart and your family to me and allowing me to become part of your family. We will miss you dearly, Awo. We will miss your caring heart, your tender smile, your jokes, your infectious laughter, and your telephone calls. We will miss the way you remembered the grandchildren on their birthdays, calling to wish them well and blessing them with your thoughtful gifts. And I will especially miss those telephone calls every hour, waiting patiently for my special banku and In Loving Memory of Mavis Naomi Mills Page 12 TRIBUTE okra soup that was “still not ready yet!” Those little moments may seem simple, but they are now precious memories that I will treasure forever. Awo, your love, kindness, wisdom, and faith have left a lasting mark on our lives. Though you are no longer with us physically, your memory will live on in our hearts, in your children, in your grandchildren, and in all those whose lives you touched. You were a blessing to our family, and I am grateful that God allowed our paths to cross. Rest peacefully, Awo. Until we meet again, may you rest in the loving arms of our Maker. You will forever be loved, remembered, and deeply missed
Tribute to my mother-in-law by Mrs. Augustina Kwao
Mr. Kojo Bonti-Amoako I have really struggled to scribble a sentence. One might ask why? It is because I still struggle to accept that you have transitioned.
Anytime we talked, sometimes for hours, we laughed and laughed. Those moments will forever remain precious to me. Thank you very much for the lessons you taught me.
One lesson among them all was your audacity to move through life accepting yourself every day-to live boldly and unapologetically as yourself.
Thank you for feeding me.
Thank you for the conversations.
Thank you for giving me a place to sleep.
Thank you for your kindness.
Thank you for being you.