Tribute from Minister Richard Nii Armah to His Beloved Wife, Nana Opokuwaa
My dearest Nana Opokuwaa, My heart is heavy as I put these words on paper. Never in my life did I imagine that I would have to speak of you in this way. For so many years, we walked side by side as husband and wife, as friends, as ministry partners, as one flesh. Now I stand here alone, with only memories to cling to, and the pain is almost unbearable. Nana Opokuwaa, you were not just my wife for 32 years, you were my life. You were the melody in my silence, the calm in my storms, and the strength behind every step I took. When people saw me, they often saw strength, but what they did not know was that my strength came from you. You prayed for me through nights of fear, you encouraged me when I doubted myself, you counseled me when I had no answers, and you reminded me always that with God, there is hope. I remember how you called my name in prayer. Many nights, when the world slept, I heard your voice whispering to heaven. You prayed for me, for our child, for the ministry, for the countless souls God entrusted to us. Your prayers became the covering of our home. Now the nights are quiet, and the silence is unbearable. I find myself straining to hear your voice again, even if only in a dream. Nana Opokuwaa, you were the crown on my head. You were the embodiment of Proverbs 31: a virtuous woman whose worth is far above rubies. Your wisdom guided me, your kindness humbled me, and your love filled me. You gave me joy in seasons of sorrow, and you gave me peace in times of confusion. When I was weak, you made me strong. When I was tired, you reminded me of my calling. When I was burdened, you reminded me that God is faithful. I look around our home, and everything reminds me of you. Your Bible filled with notes, your chair where you sat to pray, your smile in the pictures on the wall—all of it is a reminder that the love of my life once walked these halls. Sometimes I sit in your chair and hold your Bible close, just to feel a little nearer to you. Tears fall freely, because the absence is too real. You loved me in ways words cannot capture. You honored me, respected me, and stood by me through every season. You never once abandoned me in storms. When ministry was heavy, you carried it with me
. When life brought challenges, you faced them by my side. I can still hear you saying, “Nii, trust God’s timing. He makes everything beautiful in His time.” Oh, how I wish I could hear you say those words again. You were not just a wife—you were my prayer partner, my counselor, my encourager, my safe place. With you, I could be vulnerable. With you, I could share my fears. With you, I could laugh like a child and cry like a man. You knew me better than anyone else, and you loved me still. That is the kind of love every man dreams of, and I was blessed enough to live it with you. Nana Opokuwaa, life without you feels empty. The days seem longer, the nights colder, and the future quieter. I walk into the church and expect to see your face, your nod of encouragement, your smile telling me, “Go on, I am with you.” But now I see only the empty space where you once stood. The absence pierces my soul like a sword. I cannot understand why God called you home so soon. My heart asks questions heaven alone can answer. But even in my grief, I choose to trust the God you loved so much. I know you have finished your race, you have kept the faith, and now you rest in the arms of Jesus. You are where you longed to be, at the feet of the Master you served so faithfully. That is my only comfort—that you are at peace, clothed in glory, crowned with righteousness. Still, my heart aches. My tears flow like rivers. My soul is restless. You were my partner in destiny, and now I must walk this journey alone. But even in my sorrow, I make you this promise: I will carry your memory with me every day of my life. I will honor your legacy. I will hold close the lessons you taught me, and I will love you until my last breath. Nana Opokuwaa, rest well, my love. Rest from your labors. Rest from your tears. Rest in the eternal peace of Christ. Though you are gone from my sight, you remain forever in my heart. One day, when my own race is done, I know I will see you again. Until then, I will miss you, I will weep for you, and I will love you endlessly. Your broken but grateful husband, Minister Richard Nii Armah
Tribute from the Children: Elijah, Lady, and Akyaa
Dearest Mommy, our Nana Opokuwaa, How do we begin to write about you when every word feels too small for the love you gave us? How do we describe a mother whose arms were always open, whose words were always full of wisdom, and whose prayers became the very foundation of our lives? Today, we write with broken hearts, yet with gratitude, because we had the privilege of calling you “Mother.” Mommy, you were more than just our mother—you were our teacher, our counselor, our friend, and our greatest intercessor. From our earliest days, you never failed to cover us in prayer. Every morning, every evening, every night, you mentioned our names before God. Even when we were far away from home, your prayers traveled with us. We always knew we were safe, because you were on your knees for us. You taught us values that books could never teach. You taught us how to love people genuinely, how to serve God faithfully, and how to face life with courage. You taught us that life is not about what we have, but about who we are in Christ. You reminded us that failure is not the end, that challenges are stepping stones, and that obedience to God is the greatest success.
Mommy, you were our comfort in times of sadness. When we cried, you wiped our tears. When we stumbled, you held our hands. When we doubted ourselves, you reminded us of the treasures God placed within us. You believed in us even when we did not believe in ourselves. To the world you were a minister, a counselor, a mentor, but to us—you were simply “Mother,” and that was the greatest gift of all. Elijah, your son, always called you his first girlfriend. To him, you were more than a mother—you were Akosua Julie, his beloved Julie, because he loved you so deeply and was so addicted to your presence. Mommy, you were his heartbeat, his closest companion, his forever love. That bond was special, sacred, and unbreakable. He will forever remember you not only as his mother, but as the woman who held his entire world together. We will never forget your laughter, your stories, and the way you lit up every room you entered. We will miss the sound of your voice calling us by name, the smell of your cooking, the warmth of your hugs, and the peace that filled our hearts whenever you were near. We will miss your smile that reassured us when life was tough. We will miss the little lessons you gave us even in casual conversations—lessons that will guide us for the rest of our lives.
Mommy, it hurts so much to know you will not be here to see our milestones, to celebrate our victories, to encourage us through challenges. But we promise you this: we will live by the values you instilled in us. We will love God the way you loved Him. We will love people the way you did—with patience, humility, and compassion. We will honor your legacy in the way we live our lives, because that is what you would want. Though we cry today, we know you are resting in the arms of Jesus. We know you are at peace, clothed in glory, crowned with righteousness. And though you are gone from our sight, you will never leave our hearts. Your prayers, your teachings, and your love will live in us forever. Mommy, we love you deeply. We miss you terribly. And we will carry you with us in everything we do. Thank you for being the best mother God could ever have given us. Rest well, Nana Opokuwaa, until we meet again. Forever your children, Elijah (your first boyfriend forever), Lady, and Akyaa
TRIBUTE FROM ATAA ARMAH FAMILY TO THEIR DEPARTED IN-LAW OSOFO MAME JULIE ARMAH (MRS.)
All the word is a stage; And all men and women are merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts etc. by Williams Shakespeare in his play entitled “ AS YOU LIKE IT” These thought –provoking lines from Shakespeare suggest that we are actors in this world with various assigned roles and once your role is over, you bow out of the stage. This undeniable fact is exactly what has happened to our dear sister and our dear in-Law Rev. Mrs. Julie Armah in whose honor we have gathered. Sister Julie as we affectionately called her was a quintessence of beauty and charm, so calm and unassuming, simply put, a woman of gentle disposition. She was the type of woman who esteemed the word of God above all natural happenings and turned the house of God as her second place of abode, she also preach the word of God to the family members to give their life to Christ Jesus.
One thing we will forever remember her for, was her active participation in all activities in the family, including marriage ceremonies, parties, funerals etc. In fact Ataa Armah family have lost a great woman with a few words but strong to deal with; A lot of family members lost appetite when they heard of your demise, some can’t sleep and some can’t eat or drink. These reminds us in the books of Psalm 137 “ When the Jews were carried away to Babylon and they required them a song and they replied how can we sing a song in a strange land? How can we make merry and how can we sing and dance while the morta of our dear beloved laying before us. Maa Julie yaa wo Ojogbaan Osofo mame Julie Jehowa k3 bo yaa Fare thee well Julie Yaawc y3 ejc l3 mlin amen.
Tribute to Our Beloved Sister and Cousin
Now the labourer’s task is over, now the battle day is done. Father, grant your wearied one rest for evermore. Amen Today, as we stand to honour the memory of our dear sister, Rev. Dr. (Mrs.) Sally Julie Armah, our heart is heavy with grief, yet also filled with gratitude to God for the gift of her life. You were not only our sister, but also a confidant, friend, and source of encouragement. Your smile could brighten the darkest day, and your kindness left footprints on the hearts of everyone you met. Truly, “the memory of the righteous is blessed” (Proverbs 10:7). Even in times of difficulty, you showed strength and faith. You lived a life of love, service, and devotion — always putting others before yourself. I believe you can boldly say with the Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
