From: Edirin Robinson
Family, friends, and church members gathered joyfully and gratefully in Kaduna on Saturday, May 30, 2026, as the late Mama Alice Agunbiade, née Ayeni, was laid to rest.
The funeral service, held at the First Baptist Church on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, was a celebration of a life dedicated to faith, family, and service to others.
Inside the church, the mood reflected both sorrow and thankfulness. Mourners filled the pews, many dressed in white and aso-ebi, as hymns of hope and resurrection echoed through the sanctuary.
The service was marked not by despair but by stories of Mama Alice’s kindness, generosity, and steadfast devotion to God and her community.
Led by Rev. Dr. Banjo Ajao, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, the officiating ministers focused on the Christian hope of resurrection.
Using Mark 16:2 and John 11:25, they reminded everyone that Christ’s victory over death guarantees believers eternal life. “Today we celebrate a life well spent, a life that pointed others to Christ even in ordinary moments,” one of the ministers stated.
Family members described Mama Alice as a matriarch whose home was always open to those in need. They praised her wisdom, prayers, and the discipline she used in raising her children and grandchildren. For many, she was more than just a mother and grandmother—she was a counselor whose words brought comfort and strength.
Members of the First Baptist Church on Ibrahim Taiwo Road also paid glowing tribute to the late matron. They remembered her consistency in worship, her quiet support for church projects, her devotion to the children’s class, and her welcoming spirit to new members.
“Mama Alice taught us that service does not have to be loud to be impactful,” a church leader shared during the service.
Friends and well-wishers who traveled from across the country shared stories of her compassion. Many recalled her preparing meals, praying during difficult times, and making every visitor feel at home. Her life, they said, was one of giving without expecting anything in return.
The burial followed immediately at Barnawa Cemetery after the church service, with family and close friends escorting her remains to the graveside.
Prayers were offered for her peaceful rest and for strength for her family. The final committal was solemn but filled with the hope of resurrection.
In their thank you speech, the children of the deceased, represented by Wole Agunbiade SAN, expressed gratitude to everyone who supported them during their mourning.
They thanked the church, community leaders, friends, Takete Ide, and all sympathizers for their prayers, visits, and material support. “Your love carried us through,” a family spokesperson said.
The celebration of Mama Alice’s life also served as a reminder to everyone present about how fleeting life is and the importance of living purposefully. As 1 Corinthians 15:22 was read, the congregation was encouraged to prepare for eternity by trusting in Christ now, so that the hope of resurrection would be real to them as well.
As the gathering dispersed, what lingered was not just the memory of loss but the legacy of a woman whose life blessed many. Family, friends, and church members left Kaduna with the conviction that Mama Alice Agunbiade lived well, loved deeply, and finished her race in faith.
