Mrs Josephine Evelyn Ayodele Feyi Djang was the third child born to Victoria and Jonathan Davies in Sekondi, Ghana. She was a twin, but her sister died at birth. Her father died when she was a child. Her mother remarried Mr Reginald Roberts. Thus her sister - Huldah Roberts - was born. Josephine was one of five children, all of whom sadly died before her.
 
Josephine, Jo, Josie, Feyi, Major Djang, Aunty Feyi, Grandma and Mummy started her education in Ghana and then attended Sierra Leone’s Freetown Secondary School for Girls. There, she distinguished herself as an exemplary student. She boarded at the school itself as her parents were working in Ghana. During this time, she made many lifelong friends. After school, Josephine trained as a midwife in Norfolk, England. While in the UK she fell in love and married - in 1955 - Mr Reynolds Djang, an accountant from Ghana. They were blessed with two children, Nana and Kweku. Josephine and Reynolds then moved to Accra, Ghana. There, she took up a post as a Nursing Officer at the military hospital. She was an outstanding Nursing Officer and quickly rose to the rank of Major.
 
She wanted her children to grow up within her Krio culture - of which she was very proud - so she relocated them to Sierra Leone to live with their grandparents. This was standard practice for Sierra Leoneans working and living abroad. In the ‘70s Josephine moved back to Freetown, Sierra Leone to be closer to her family. She maintained the rank of Major and was appointed Deputy Matron of the military hospital. She was a nursing tutor at the military hospital as well as at the Sierra Leone Nursing School, maintaining both roles until she retired in 1984. However she did not stop there. During visits to the UK, she continued in her field of work in several British hospitals.
 
Aunty Feyi/Josephine’s home in Sierra Leone was a welcoming place for all. She fostered several relatives’ children. One of them, Ebun, stayed with her for many years until she herself got married. Josephine worked tirelessly to support her children and it is a testament to her fortitude and character that her natural and foster children are successful and well-respected pillars of their communities. Josephine moved permanently to England in 1991 and settled in Colindale, North London to be near her grandchildren. She spread her grand mothering duties among her four grandchildren living in England and Sierra Leone.
 
Josephine was a dedicated Christian. She faithfully attended bi-weekly services at St Augustine’s Church, Colindale. Her faith gave her strength, courage and stability and she was very much loved within her church community. Josephine was a very strong, resilient and independent woman. Her military training imparted grit, integrity, loyalty and self-sufficiency in her. Much as she loved people, she was equally comfortable with her own company. She had a mischievous sense of humour and was very kind and generous.
 
Josephine Evelyn Ayodele Feyi Djang passed away at her home on 30th June 2021. She is survived by her children: Nana, Kweku and Ebun, her grandchildren Talessa, Tevin, Toria and Elijah, great granddaughter Ayana, son-in-law Chris, daughter-in-law Diana, several nephews, nieces and cousins and numerous other family members and friends in the UK, Sierra Leone, the USA and around the world.
 
She will be dearly missed. We know she is in heaven. May her soul rest in peace.