Still looking for the words to say a week later. This one hurts, deeply. Adoo was a bright, bright light, impacting everyone wherever she shone. Adoo lived - truly, fully, intentionally lived. Her memory is blessed.

It is well.

I still can't believe I am writing this yet.

Della from the first time I met you in 2012 at UI you were a breath of fresh air.

I was in a space where I didn't know anyone but you became like a sister.

Your smile made it easy to connect with you and I call you 'popular jingo' because it seemed like everywhere we turned there was someone who knew you or someone you knew.

You were caring and I remember how one time you showed up at my hostel with a bag full of clothes for me.

I am always amazed at how you travelled a lot for different ministry programs with passion and fire to serve the Lord.

One of those periods you traveled for a ministry program in my city, you came along with someone you met at the park just because the woman had no where to stay during the program.

Your kindness, your laughter and joy was contagious. You had a brilliant way of encouraging others even when you were under pressure yourself.

Della, I can't believe this is goodbye from this side but I am rest assured that your love for God was real.

May your soul rest peacefully with the Father.

Della loved music. 

This was one musical event we attended last year.

Hmmmmmm miss delllssssssss.

I met dells officially when  you came to my dads funeral in 2018, I felt like had people by me and that was where we kicked off. Resuming the office and I still saw you there .

I came inexperienced and you took it upon yourself to train me. You taught, taught and taught. At any slight inconvenience I will run to you and you never got angry you will always put me through.

You taught me the whole office shebang, planning, discipline, seed sowing, partnership, consistency, confidence, loyalty, love, respect, honor, admin skills, public speaking, carriage and a whole lot more.

The way you correct my English 🤣🤣

Gisting with you was awesome, the laughters, the giggles, the long walks, the late nights at work and we enjoyed every bit of it.

You loved hard and gave harder.

You came all the way to Lagos just to visit and congratulate me with plenty giftsss.

I can’t believe you are gone Dellssssssss 

We had plans oooo, work  travels, weddings, Kaiiiiii Dellssssssss 

Thank you for loving me soo much, I am grateful for the gift of you and the opportunity to experience you.

I will cherish this memories ❤️❤️❤️

I love you soo much and I will miss you..

Rest well Dellssss❤️❤️

DELLARINA!!! My earliest memory of Adoo was back in 2004. We were just children then. I remember us gisting and she telling me about her church, Christ Family Centre. She showed me pictures of her pastor’s wife and people in her ministry with so much pride. It was such a simple, beautiful moment — but somehow, it stayed with me.

For six years we grew up together in Federal Gboko, and by 2010, our lives became deeply intertwined when we had to travel to Ibadan together. From 2010 to 2014 now feels so unreal to me, not because it was insignificant, but because it was so full, yet now taken from me. Those years were so intense and so formative.

We did life together.

We moved from one cyber café to another, in Gboko and Ibadan hustling for our future. We travelled long distances to Ibadan together. At a point, it truly felt like we only had each other. Adoo introduced me to the first people I knew in UI — people who later became our safe haven. It was so easy for her because she was always smiling while my own face was always so serious.

We were hungry together. We laughed together. We cried together. We experienced so many “firsts” together.

We rehearsed and performed together. We even had our modelling days when we got cheated and we looked back and laughed. We coordinated outfits and went almost everywhere together like twins. We ushered at events together. We attended each other’s fellowships. We were in each other’s relationships having opinions. We argued. We made up. We grew. We learned.

And then there was her faith.

Adoo had what I can only describe as ridiculous faith. When we had nothing and we were hungry, she would boldly say, “I eat.” And somehow, we always did. When I was always panicking about things, Adoo was so calm and unbothered.

She never joked with the things of God. Her service to Him was unwavering. She would travel from Abuja to Lagos to attend a church program. That was how serious she was.

Those five years shaped my entire adult university experience.

Even after that season passed and distance came, our friendship never changed. Not one bit.

I am especially grateful for 2023 — the last time I spent considerable physical time with her when she came to my house in Lagos. Her excitement about my wedding made my own joy even bigger. Adoo immediately switched to the married name. It was beautiful to witness someone rejoice for you so wholeheartedly.

Looking back now, it is difficult to reconcile all these memories with this present reality. It is hard. Very hard.

But I am grateful.

Grateful that I met her in 2004.

Grateful for 22 years of knowing and being friends with her.

Even more grateful for the five years we were inseparable — the years that shaped us. It was a beautiful time. And I will carry it in my broken heart always.

Your mischievousness and jolly nature will forever be missed.

I can’t believe that I am writing this but farewell my forever Catfish! 💔💔💔🫶🏾🫶🏾🕊️🕊️

I met Mama D in 2017 when I joined the choir. I didn’t even join because I could sing so well — I joined because I wanted to be more committed to church. But from the very beginning, she never gave up on me.

She saw something in me that I didn’t even see in myself.

Mama D pushed me to do more. She was excellence personified, and she taught everyone around her — not just with words, but by example — how to pursue excellence.

On days when rehearsals were back-to-back and I had to back up on stage, I would look to the corner and see her cheering me on, giving me that reassuring thumbs up. When I came downstage, she would always say, “Well done.”

Those words meant more than she probably ever knew.

Even after I left Gboko Church for Makurdi, whenever there were programs, she would still put my name on the backup list. She always found a way to involve me. Even when I traveled without proper notice, she would say, “Vivian, I don’t know how you’re going to do it, but you’re going to back up.” She trusted me. She trusted me to show up. She trusted me to handle every task.

That trust shaped me.

It gave me a deep sense of responsibility.

Because Mama D believed I would always make myself available, I learned to always be prepared. I learned to take responsibility seriously. I learned to give my best — because I knew she would be counting on me.

Even after I moved, I would still message her to share my experiences and how things were going, and she would always encourage me to stay true to myself and give my best, no matter what.

I truly wish I had shown her even more gratitude while she was here. I was hoping for a miracle… but now I have to live with the reality.

My only consolation is knowing you are resting with the Lord. I believe you have seen His glory on the other side, and I can only imagine how beautiful it must be.

Thank you, Mama D, for shaping my life in ways you probably never even imagined.

Thank you for believing in me.

Thank you for pushing me.

Miss Della contributed greatly to my life and who I am today. She demonstrated love in its simplest form, taught me to be a person discipline and character and was always ready to put me right back on track if I fumbled. Her presence in my life was a gift I will forever cherish. 

In moments when I doubted myself, she persuaded me, encouraged me and believed in me.When I strayed, she corrected me with wisdom and kindness. The values she instilled in me continue to shape my decisions, my relationships, and the way I show up in the world.

Though her physical presence is no longer here, her lessons, her laughter, and her unwavering support remain alive in my heart. I find comfort in knowing that her legacy lives on through the lives she touched and the seeds of goodness she planted in us all.

May her beautiful soul rest in perfect peace. She will always be remembered with love, gratitude, and deep honor.

My dear Della,

You were such a cheerful and wonderful person. The news of your passing came as a rude shock cause we gisted together in church on Sunday and by Wednesday it was the news of your passing.

You always call me Winnie smiles and I really loved that name.

One thing am confident about is you are right in heaven with the Lord darling🙏

You will be greatly missed ❤️🥲😭 🕊️ 

Della ooo… it gets real every day.

You were that sure, steady presence who always told me the truth. My Tilapia fish… ah! I will miss you so much.

I thank God for the life you lived, the role you played, and the lives you blessed. I’m sure you’re still on an adventure tour in heaven — because you always loved adventure.

Rest well, Della. 🤍🕊️