Exit of a Selfless and Faithful Servant, Mama Grace Got
By Ralph Madugu
Saturday, December 9, 2023, would remain indelible in the memories of those who witnessed the burial ceremony of late Mrs. Grace Tasalla Got, a mother of 9 and a retired Deputy Director. Late Mrs Got was also a former leader, Women Fellowship, ECWA Gospel 2, Jenta Jos, and one-time Treasurer, Jos DCC, ECWA Women Fellowship.
ECWA Gospel 2, Jenta, off Gada Biyu road in Jos North LGA, Plateau State, was literally lit up with all colours as eminent personalities took time off to pay their last respects to a woman many referred to as “a selfless person, faithful servant and an epitome of sacrifice”. Among those who attended the funeral service were prominent politicians, including the Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Arc. Samuel Jatau. Some past and serving members of the National Assembly were not left out including a sibling of the deceased, a former senator of the Federal Republic, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha. Those who graced the occasion were former Senate President, David Mark, Senator Dino Melaye as well as clergymen from other churches within and outside Plateau State.
If the dead could talk, Mrs. Grace Got, 68, would have wished for a better way to depart from the world. The event heralding her sojourn to the great beyond was amidst thanksgiving to God and the testimonies of a life well lived. It was obvious that many who came for the burial did so in honour of a woman was retired from public service, yet nurtured many children including orphans and sponsored missionaries.
Rev. Dr. James Igbul, senior pastor of ECWA Gospel 2, who delivered the sermon at the funeral service, said that much while extoling the virtues of the deceased.
He used the service to remind all and sundry that there were benefits for those who die in the Lord. While enjoining Christians to “live and die in the Lord,” Rev. Igbul urged everyone to strive to live right and leave behind good legacy.
Speaking on the topic “Dying in the Lord”, taken from Revelation 14:13, the cleric said that dying in the Lord has a lot of benefits adding that it was either a person dies in the Lord or in the devil as according to him dying in the Lord means “a person knew the Lord, lived in the Lord and died in the Lord.”
The cleric posited that death is hanging on the neck of everyone and that either a person dies in the Lord or dies in the devil adding that those who die in the devil are those who lived reckless lives.
Said he: “Those who died in the Lord are not lost. Their story is different, dying in the Lord means the person knew the Lord, lived as a believer in Christ and died in Him. Mama encountered the Lord, lived in the Lord and died in the Lord.”
On some of the benefits of dying in the Lord, the cleric said “Those who die in the Lord are blessed, they rest from their labour and their works do follow them. So, mama Grace Got died in the Lord and she is blessed, she is resting and her works have followed her.”
The man at the centre of the show and an elder brother to the deceased, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, was full of gratitude to the leadership of ECWA Gospel 2 for standing by the family and to the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, and all those who stood with the family since the day Mrs. Got passed as well as those who attended and those who sent in condolence messages. He was particularly happy that the church recognized the contributions of his sister towards the development of the church.
Born on the 29th of July 1955 to the family of Abu Joseph and Priscilla Ogbeha, Mrs. Got attended St. Michael’s Primary School, Kaduna and then went to Queen Elizabeth School Ilorin, Kwara State.
She proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1975 and in 1979, she graduated with a B.Sc in Sociology. She completed her National Youth Sevice in July 1980. She got married to Mr. Sunday Achus Got and the marriage was blessed with three children and numerous adopted children.
In the course of her earthly sojourn, the deceased was a dedicated member of ECWA Gospel 2 Jenta where she served in the choir and Women Fellowship for several years. Late Mrs. Grace Got held various positions in the Church. She was one-time Assistant Leader, Leader and Financial Secretary of ECWA Women Fellowship Jenta LCC. She also held the position of Treasurer, Jos DCC Women Fellowship.
She also served as a Board member of Radio ELWA and ECWA Secondary School Miango.
Mrs. Grace Got, in the course of her career as a public servant, rose through the ranks and retired as Deputy Director and Head of Personnel at the Nigeria Metallurgical Development Company (NMDC), Jos, in July 2017.
Until her death on 26th November 29,2023 while recovering from a stroke, the deceased continued to sponsor missionaries, orphans, widows and the less privileged.
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