FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Publisher
10 June 2011
Halifa Sallah
One hundred minus two years ago, the woman who is about to take her last journey accompanied by mortals, first took her first breath of air into her lungs, as a mortal, to begin that long journey, from the cradle to the grave.
Here she is, in that coffin before us, unable to see, hear, talk, smell or taste like mortals do. On her 98 birth day she was able to write poetry and grant interviews to television, radio and the press. It is an irony that she waited to be 98 to a celebrity.
Soon after she reached the public eye and even received a National honour for meritorious National Service she decided to go to rest. On a hospital bed she lay and peacefully went to sleep after expressing her deep admiration for the quality of service she had received form the young doctors at Kololi Clinic. The great love she bore never allowed her to rest for even a day. Day and night she worked to add more to the lives of her children, grandchildren, neighbours and even strangers. People of diverse colour, nationality and ethno-linguistic origin have lived with her. Gambian and Senegalese, Africans at home and in the Diaspora, British and German, Scandinavian and Asian, personalities of all shades have lived with her and had benefited from her wise counsel or empathy. She was always there for everyone to lean on as the rock of the ages. Her force of example shall remain a guiding light.
Mam is no more yet it is difficult to believe that the rock has melted away. She is the type of person who never grew old. Never have I met a more productive person at the age of 98 as Mama Chapman.
She was a sister, aunt and a grandmother, all at the same time. When it came to intellectual discussion on current world affairs she was the colleague of any erudite thinker and had the stamina to debate all day with utmost enthusiasm and clarity.
When it came to rearing young people she was a mother to all her grandchildren and her daughter played the role of an aunt. As a stern former schoolteacher she had a way of deflating the arrogance and insolence of the youth and makes one to appear humble before her even if one wanted to be sulky. She was always in command not because of might but because of integrity. She was more current than her grandchildren, thus eradicating any gulf of a generation gap between them.
However she had a calculated sense of humour when playing the role of a grandmother. She has mastered the art of interpersonal relationships and would role play marital rivalries with spouses of grandchildren in the most sophisticated manner that made everyone felt at home.
She could humble the extroverts and energise the quiet soul of the introverts. Those who did not know Dixon Colley felt that he was always occupied by media matters and had no time to socialise. Dixon’s closest friend was Mama Chapman.
Mam worked humbly on this earth. This is why we could hear her speak with the voice of silence, whispering for us to assemble here to pay our last respects and we have come from diverse places and from diverse works of life to answer to the call.
Today as we accompany her to her final resting place at the bossom of the earth I must caution death that it should not take pride in taking Mam Mary’s body away from us. For all mortals have an end. The rock of the ages however cannot melt away. Mam worked humbly on this earth. ‘He/She that is down fears no fall’ was her motto. She was humble and down to earth and never feared to return to it with humility. She conquered death while she was still alive. She even bought everything she needed for her burial just to prepare for death as she prepared for marriage. Death could conquer body but it cannot conquer spirit and memory. Mam’s words and deeds shall remain immortal. They will live in our hearts and minds forever.
I would like it to be known that on her 98th Birthday she took her pen and in her own hand writing put on record what will be engraved on tablets by sculptors and captured in paintings by artists. She had the brilliance and foresight to bequeath to us and to generations yet unborn these immortal words:
.
NEVER SAY FAIL
Keep pushing; it’s wiser than sitting aside
Dreaming and sighing and waiting the tide
In life’s hardest battles they only prevail
Who dare to march forward and never say fail
Mam Mary Chapman
98 years as of 1 February 2011
Rest in Peace Mama Chapman Rest in perfect Peace Auntie Marie Owens .Rest In Peace Mam Ndahteh We shall always be guided by your immortal words
AllAfrica – All the Time
View article:
Tribute to Our 98 Year Old Poetess Mam Mary Owens Chapman