ALFRED Lord Tennyson once wrote: “The heights which great men (and women) reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight.

But they, while their companions slept, were toiling upwards in the night”. This quotation graphically encapsulates the life and times of a great mother of our time, Lolo Ezinne Jesse Nwabaraku Nwachukwu of Umunneorie Udo Community in Ezinihitte Mbaise Imo State who departed this world on November 4, 2009.

It was a known fact that Mama Obinna as she was fondly called was not born with the proverbial silver spoons, but through dint of hard work, she rose from obscurity to celebrity.

This was a woman whose life was the hallmark of sterling qualities, excellent record of service, credibility and patriotism to both God and humanity.

She was a woman who literally pulled herself up by her own boot straps in the grueling struggle of life; overcoming and surviving the sordid experiences of poverty, child mortality and civil war which called forth all the survival instincts of every human being and challenged her to play those sterling qualities which distinguish excellence from mediocrity, solid achievement from feeble performance, imaginative insight from visionless bungling, and creativity from idealism.

Given her large heart and humanitarian posture, Mama Obinna could be described as Mother Theresa of modern times. She never discriminated against any one irrespective of tribe, religion or belief. Her large heart made it possible for many families to find shelter in her house.

These families were catered for and their children trained by this woman and her husband. Indeed, testimonies abound of people who trained their kids, built houses and acquired wealth with the help of Mama.

Born in 1926 to the late Mr.and Mrs Ukabiala Anosike of Eziala Obizi Mbaise, Lolo Nwachukwu was the first among five children. Her birth came after a long delay which made her parents to give her the Ibo name Nwabaraku (meaning a child that cost money to get).

She was dearly loved by everybody in her maiden home, particularly her father who had the habit of carrying her about on his shoulders even to social functions. She got married about 60 years ago to Nze Israel Ekeleme Nwachukwu, a pioneer councillor in the former Aboh Mbaise LGA (1966-1979).

The marriage was blessed with 10 children with only four living. Among them is Dr Obinna F Nwachukwu, a Public Relations Consultant and former Business Editor of Vanguard Newspapers.

In 1977 Mama Obinna was among the few illustrious women of Udo Community crowned Lolo Nze by the traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty Eze Matthew .C.Ukeje (Udo Abia IV).

As at the time of her death last year, she was the oldest holder of that title in the entire Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government. Throughout the long period of her reign spanning 32 years she never betrayed the confidence reposed in her by the Chief and the people of the community.

In the Anglican Communion, her Christian denomination, she was a leading light. She held various key posts both in the church and the community women groups. As a Christian mother, Mama had the reputation of molding her children in the Christian way of life.

She abhorred wickedness, inhuman treatment, fetish sacrifices, ostentatious lifestyle and criminality in all ramifications.

The journey to her death began in 2002 when she had a sudden attack of stroke at the family land where she went to dispose refuse. At that time, the said land was in dispute between her husband and the brother-in-law.

For seven years the family fought relentlessly to bring her back to health  to no avail. At times when it was thought she had recovered she relapsed, that continued to happen again and again.

Although the land dispute was later resolved in court in favour of her husband, the debilitating blow the stroke dealt to her frail body remained a  constant torment until she gave up the ghost on November 4, 2009, ending 83 years of dedicated, upright and humanitarian service.

If the saying that those who do well do not last long, perhaps that could be ascribed to Mama Obinna and her traumatic exit. But as the scripture says, the righteous has a reward in the bosom of the Lord.

Mama was a supportive wife to her ever-busy husband. She provided him care, advice, comfort and solace in times of difficulty. Indeed their last days were like those of siemens twins.

To the children, Mama was a virtuous woman. She was a moralist, teacher, adviser and sometimes chief-whip, often whipping them to order with one hand when they derail and at the same time ready to cuddle them with the other hand. She encouraged her children to imbibe the tenets of Christian living, and never supported immorality, corruption and indecent dressing.

Mama was very nice, very kind, very loving and jovial. She loved to care for and share with those who have less.

Mama took everybody as herself especially her daughters-in-law. The often told story of in-fighting between Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law was strange in her family. And to the rest of the family including grand-children and relations, Mama was everything they expected. She never bore grudges and never paid evil for evil. She encouraged healthy living and good neighbourliness.

Indeed, in good and difficult times, in youth and age, Mama Obinna remained quintessential. Her life was a source of inspiration to many people including the women and youths many of whom benefited from her humane disposition by way of scholarship awards, micro- credits and economic empowerment.

Given her immense contributions to mankind, we are optimistic that the good LORD who took her way would keep and protect her as well as give her a rightful place in the abode of the Saints. As William Shakespeare said : “ …life is but a poor player that frets and struts his hour upon the stage and is heard no more..”

Mr. Obinna NWACHUKWUu  writes from Lagos.