Diaspora News of Tuesday, 23 June 2015

Source: Agyenim Boateng

In Memoriam: Mrs Deloris Boateng

TO LOIS: MY LOVING WIFE, A DEVOTED MOTHER, A STRONG FMILY PERSON, A STRONG WOMAN A PERSON OF DEEP CHRISTIAN .WHO LOVED JESUS
I first met you my future wife Deloris at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama where I was serving as a young instructor in American Government. One day at the commencement of the semester you came to my office with your best friend Mildred to sign up for my class which unfortunately was full; I told you the class was full. As you told me later you said something unprintable. But through your persistence I later signed you up. At first I was really looking at your friend but didn’t work as your later told me that you heard a small voice telling you one day in class that I was going to be your future husband. You laughed at the idea the lord had a plan
We were married on Christmas day of 1970 at your family house in Montgomery, AL. You bore me 2 greatest kids Adu and Afua whom we proudly raised to be the persons we always wanted. Like all marriages it had gone thru peaks and valleys but we did remain together for 45 years. Through the years I found you to be complementary to my foibles and frails. I was the big picture painter whilst you filled in the little or small details. This combination of personalities made our life better and sustained our marriage for throughout the years
I remember when we started dating I was not actually conversant with the American ways of dating or dealing with women period My first five years in US was pursuing my educational laurels . My way of life had been class room experiences. Once she wanted to go shopping and took her to Sears. After you picked up a couple of items I told you it was enough and paid for them. You told me it was the choice of the lady to decide if she had had enough. Next episode was us going out one night and wanted to take you back to your parents’ home. You insisted I took you to a restaurant or somewhere for a bite. It was very late at night and where I came from people didn’t eat after midnight. All those were strange experiences were new .You helped me understood the American ladies way of life.
After graduation from law school in Washington DC we relocated to Lexington Kentucky to work with the Louisville Legal Aid Society. Where you also taught at the public school system of Louisville., KY
Your devotion and dedication to your family was absolute you attack any of them and you attack her. For instance a after a spat with one of your sisters and you echo her sentiments you turned round 180 degrees and you find an n egg in your face. So I and Adu or Afua tended to smile when you started your baiting antics... Apart from your Christian faith your family came first and was devoted, protector and would not spare any efforts and resources a to help and defend any member who needed your help
You at first belonged the to the Baptist t faith and had such a beautiful voice that people compared your voice and signing style to Aretha Franklin in her glory days. You were devoted to gospel music and felt that musician voices and music should be in praise to the glory of God.
When one day when we visited your parents in Montgomery you came home from nearby church speaking in tongues. You really blindsided me with your conversion to the apostolic or Pentecostal faith. The off shoot of your baptism was you suddenly stopped your two packs a day smoking and your favorite JB whisky drinking. I then realized that there was some “power in them tongues’ ‘I did not complain. Throughout our years you’ve been faithful and devoted servant of God. You didn’t mind driving 23 miles one way on Sundays to attend service at Christ Temple in Paris Kentucky under your pastor Jurisdictional Bishop Vercelli Jones... You used to tell me in order to get to heaven you have to press your way and therefore didn’t mind driving with Afua on Sundays and some times during the week days even in inclement weather. You were appointed assistant pastor of your church and the glory came when you were ordained an as full minister at by the PCof l at the International Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2014.
A fitting testimony on the effect of your Christian faith was recently revealed in an inspiring statement sent by a former teaching colleague in Lexington when she heard of your death; She wrote: I remember her invocation well (set a retired teachers meeting). I still have the card she gave us. I have it along with a cross in my purse thinking of her every time I see the cross. I actually have a special story about the cross. Soon after her invocation we learned that our young grandson had a brain tumor and would need surgery. I had the card in my purse and on our way to the hospital the morning of the surgery I found a small cross in the console of our new van. We still do not know how the cross came to be there but it was a sign that indeed God is with us. Our grandson is doing well now and I thank God for his blessings that day. I thought of the lady and her message. Now I know her name....Deloris. I wish I could share this story with her family. Marlene Wright Former Teacher of Scott County KY
So to my loving wife Lois ‘even though your earthly candle has been snuffed off earlier by wind or rain my love for you will forever glow until we meet again.
May you rest in heavenly peace!
Agyenim
Your Beloved Husband

A memorial service will be held in Lexington KY on August 8. Friends
may contact Dr.Agyenim Boateng at