I have been passing through various stages of grief arising from the unexpected death of my beloved younger sister – Elder Mrs Mercy Okoro Ezuma (Nee Ivi). I thought of what story I should publish under my regular column on Aro News, I decided to publish my sincere Tributes in her honor in furtherance of my deep respect and love for her, our family and all her beautiful beloved ones. Join me to celebrate her life well spent on earth.

I do not know why many good things especially good people don’t last long on earth!

My sister Mercy was a very nice lady by every definition of someone being good and nice. She didn’t live as much long as I had wished she would live. She died just at 67 blessed years of age. Our beloved mother Nneoha Inyom Aro – Madam Avuekwe Okorafor lived up to 102 years and was buried only a few years ago. I had thought my sister – Elder Mrs Mercy Okoro Ezuma – would live like her mother did, at least, up to 100 years on earth. But that was a wish, a mere wish.

Ever since 10th January, 1958 when Mercy – Alaezi – my beloved sister, later known as Elder Mrs Mercy Okoro Ezumah was born into our great Ivi Ezike family to our handsome great father and beautiful mother – Mazi Okorafor Ivi -Dede Oma and his wife Mrs Grace Avuekwe Okorafor Ivi – Nneoha Inyom Aro, Mercy – our sister – remained my most beloved sibling till her unexpected death on the 16th of January 2025. What a painful loss!

When she was born, our father named her Alaezi of our “Ndi Ivi Ezike traditional Compound” in Asaga village Arochukwu. She became a namesake to our father’s auntie – Da Alaezi Kanu Igwe (Nee Adimoha) that begot Mazi Adimoha Kanu Igwe – one of the best Ezeogo that Asaga village has ever had. We later named Alaezi my sister the name she bears till now – a new name that reflects the mercy of God in our lives – MERCY- a namesake to our illustrious sister – Mrs Mercy Oji of Amuvi village.

As my sister Alaezi was growing up she adopted both Alaezi and Mercy as her names; she was registered in the School by our Elder brother –  Mazi Sir Goddy Ivi with the name Mercy. Only a few of our people continued to call her Alaezi. To my dad and mom she remained Alaezi with Mercy as a new name. Most people called her Mercy. She later got married to Okoro Ezumah of blessed memory from Ndi Okoro Oji Oti Eni in Ujari village Arochukwu.

Mercy was angelic, glorious, precious, beautiful, full of mercy and purity right from her birth to the time of her death.

If her death was something prayers could avert, Mercy would have averted her death by herself because she was a mighty prayer warrior. She prayed fervently for herself; she prayed for her family and others through out her life till her last moment on earth. Many people including the family and the Church prayed fervently for her divine healing throughout the short period of her illness; but the will of God over her life prevailed. If her death was something human beings and money could avert, people that rallied around her to support her and her family would have averted her death at 67. It was not what human beings, hospitals and money could stop. The will of God whom she served all her life with all her heart and all she had ultimately prevailed. And so, when God called her up to go back home to her creator, she peacefully bowed.

When I last spoke with her on her sick bed few days before her last breath, I heard her said to me: “Brother thank you for everything! I believe Jesus is still the Lord. He knows the best for me. I trust His will. You are a worthy brother to have. We would continue to be a brother and a sister. I am very proud of you”. Her faith was strong but her voice was faint. I was deeply shaken at heart. I urged her to fight on. I assured her that we would do everything to save her life from that ailment – the deadly ailment that eventually took her life from us. We did all we could and were still willing and able to do more to save her. But it was not in our power to change anything. She fought a good fight and won a beautiful crown of glory. The will of God in her life eventually prevailed. She peacefully passed on to the glory beyond on 16th of January 2025. But her memories will continue to live in our hearts forever! We loved her. But God loves her most, even unto death.

In one of our family WhatsApp group calls and meetings we prayed fervently for her divine healing. But later we agreed that since it pleased God that Mercy – my beloved younger sister of about ten years age gap – would go home to eternity to be with God when she did, it was also pleasing to us. We gave God the glory.

Even though it was shocking to me in particular and to others too, I personally have to accept her death as a reality that was in line with the perfect will of God. My family and I will continue to give God the glory for the quality of life of kindness, humility, sincerity, love, peace and philanthropy that our sister Elder Mrs Mercy Okoro Ezuma (Nee Ivi) lived on earth touching many lives positively.

She would be remembered for the many good works she had done, for the worthy selfless services she had rendered to humanity and God almighty while she was alive. We are indeed consoled by the huge testimonies many people from various walks of life, communities and faiths, including the Church – the body of Christ – have continued to give about her life. Our loss of her here on earth is a gain to the saints in Heaven.

Mercy was a hardworking person; she was a successful teacher who rose to the position of a senior College Principal before she retired from public service. She was very illustrious and industrious. She had thriving and successful businesses including trading, catering and a thriving event planning outfit that will surely outlive her because she brought up many good skilled people that will continue from where she stopped. We will all continue to add good value to all the legacy she left behind.

She was a devoted servant of God, a cheerful giver, peace ambassador, lover of children, and a quiet philanthropist. She had several people (young and old, men and women) she successfully mentored and trained in the way of the Lord and usefully empowered to become successful in life. Her legacy will continue to thrive even much greater than while she was alive by the special grace of God. Mercy was special and dear to us as a family. Too sad we lost her too early; she was a rare gem, my prayer warrior, my beloved sister. May her gentle soul continue to rest in eternal perfect peace in Jesus name. Amen.