Deborah Jolade Ogunrombi

I know that my God lives and he will continue in each of your lives.

Obituary

With deep sadness but profound gratitude, we announce the passing of Dr Deborah Jolade Ogunrombi, who was born on 31st July,1936 in Ogbomoso and passed away on 16th April 2026 in Kaduna Nigeria .

Mama Dns Ogunrombi will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and the quiet ability to bring people together. Family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues all experienced the warmth and sincerity that made time spent with her so meaningful.

Throughout her life, she built lasting connections and touched many lives through simple acts of care, encouragement, and friendship. Conversations, shared moments, and everyday gestures created memories that will remain with those who had the privilege of knowing Mama.

Family and relationship with the Lord meant a great deal to Dr Ogunrombi, and relationships were always nurtured with patience and devotion. Friends valued loyalty and sincerity, while colleagues appreciated dedication and a thoughtful approach to work and collaboration.


The passing of Dr Mrs Ogunrombi at the age of 90 leaves a space that cannot be filled. Yet the memories, lessons, prayers and moments shared will continue to live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate to know her.

Grandma will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

Early Childhood

At eight days old, Jolade had tetanus, a disease with a 100 percent infant mortality rate. Fearful, her mother came to the clinic where Kathleen served as a missionary and nurse. Usually, there were around 70 young mothers at the outreach clinic in Ogbomosho, Nigeria. In addition to sharing medical information and treatment, the staff shared the gospel.
Though she lived in close proximity, Jolade's mother was a newcomer to the clinic. She begged the nurses to help, despite the staggering odds and grim prognosis. So Kathleen Manley prayerfully took care of the little one. Miraculously, Jolade pulled through the illness. Later, when the nurses made a house call on Jolade and her mother, they had the opportunity to meet and share the gospel with several people. Amazed by Jolade's story, the people expressed interest in learning more about the God who had done the impossible.One of Kathleen's co-workers said, "If you are coming to church because of this little child, you are proving again what it says in our Bible, that a little child shall lead them." Jolade's neighbors responded: "Is that in your Bible? That much we know is true, and if that much is true, surely the rest is. We want to know more about your Bible." Three years later, one of Kathleen's co-workers wrote that Jolade's mother had put her faith in Christ and was attending church with two non-Christians from her neighborhood. "This is just one small story to show a little of what we hope to do with the extension work, and what we are trying to do in the small baby clinic we have. People can be reached through medical work," Kathleen wrote.

Kathleen Senter Manley
Years of Service: 1934-1958
Date of Birth: July 29, 1906
Date of Death: May 24, 1987

More Information:
Back Side o' Nowhere by Kathleen Manley and Roberta J. Cox
Edwards (limited availability)

Family Tribute

A loving and caring mother. You taught me patience and endurance. You lived a great life. It is hard to find the words to say goodbye so i say..... mummy see you later at Jesus' feet where there will be no more parting. I love you. Adedayo Ojokojo.

Mummy was a true General of the Word and Christian principles. She read the Bible through at least once every year. Her Bible was thoroughly marked with her handwritten notes and worn as she lived it out practically. She impacted lives for Jesus wherever she went.
I'm forever grateful for a life that taught me about Jesus, gave everything she had to bless other lives and never for once asked for anything in return.
What a day of rejoicing when we meet again.. Akinwumi Ogunrombi 

Timeline

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Memory Wall

May 15, 2026

A life well lived, a heart full of love - you were an approachable, understanding, outspoken, and loving grandma who loved the Lord, your life was a testament to the power of love, a shining example of the impact one person can have from above. We love you but God loved more. Your memories remain a blessing to us and a legacy that sustains. Sleep on, Grandma, till we meet to part no more. Adieu o Grandma!

Aminu Olanrewaju

May 14, 2026

Our hearts are full of joy and gratitude when we remember the way you mentored and discipled us even as a class teacher.
Memory of your leadership style and your unequal kindness will linger still. Though we cannot stop you from returning home because there is a time to be born and time to die but we still love you even at death.
Mama, your life is full of virtues than we can mention. You were kind hearted, loving, polite, focused, and dutiful. You have lived life worthy of your existence. Sleep on Mama until the resurrection day. Bye

Rev Ogunkemi Abiodun

May 14, 2026

Mama lived a worthy life of honour, and her love, wisdom, and kindness will continue to live on in all those she touched. May God grant you and the entire family the strength to bear the loss.

We stand with you in this moment and may her memory continue to be a blessing in Jesus name

Professor Lanre Idowu

May 14, 2026

We fondly called you Mummy. You shaped my growing years with my close cousin late Akinniyi in our days at Ogbomoso Grammar School. Mummy, you were a virtuous, loving and caring mother even to children of extended family members like me. I thank God for a life well spent in service to humanity and God. May God grant you eternal rest Mummy.

Kolawole Gideon Akande (JP)

May 14, 2026

I will always remember her beauty, calmness, kindness and her gentle way of displaying her love, even to a stranger. May the Lord comfort every member of the family in Jesus's Christ name.

Ibironke Ibiwumi Idowu

May 14, 2026

Mama Jolade, you are Mother indeed not only to your biological children. You impacted every lives that come across your way. You were so loving, caring and generous. Anytime we visit you in your house at Ogbomoso, your hospitality was warm and unforgettable. Mama we love you but Jesus loves you more. Sleep on till resurrection day.

Prof. Kayode and Mrs. Alice Owoade

May 14, 2026

The memory of the righteous is a blessing. Even though it has just been months, Dr. Ogunrombi, you can never be forgotten. You will always be remembered and honoured because of the beautiful life you lived. Truly, you loved God and served God faithfully, your life was a living testament to God's grace, and light into the lives of so many is truly remarkable. We love you but God love you more, till we meet to depart no more.

Glory Baptist Church, Sabo, Kaduna.

Rev. Johnson Olayinka

May 14, 2026

*Tribute to Mummy Ogunrombi*
Our path crossed with Mummy Dns (Dr) Ogunrombi in 1980 at Federal Government College,Kaduna where we took our children for interview in into the school. Since then she has been a mother and mentor. When we moved to Zaria on transfer later that year and our children were given admission,she made sure that Daddy Ogunrombi took Akinwumi and Femi to and from school until they graduated. This is a life of service and sacrifice.
‎Having interactions with Mummy brought out the fact that she was an embodiment of love generousity kindness and deligence.Infact, she lived her life based on practical christian principles for all to see. She was willing to go the extra mile to support and make others feel at home.
‎As Olugbodi family she impacted our lives so much and encouraged my educational achievement. She was also a teacher per excellence because she taught us some courses at B.Ed and  M Ed levels.
‎Mummy has gone to rest and we say goodnight because we shall meet again at Jesus' feet.
‎ *Mrs S .A Olugbodi ( Iya Femi, Mama Railway)*

Mrs S.A. Olugbodi

May 14, 2026

Adieu Mummy.
Mummy was a loving and caring person who has touched many lives.Your.kindness will be deeply missed.. Continue to rest in the.bosom of the Lord Amen.

0layemi Olusegun

May 14, 2026

Mummy was a true and natural unifier.
She loved God and dedicated her entire life to the service of God through the Church and the community in general

She loved her family and was always available with open arms,a listening ear and a generous heart
.
She loved education and wanted everyone she came into contact with to maximize their potential.

She might have been misunderstood by some but she
genuinely wanted the best for everyone..

Mummy was a mother,teacher & mentor to so many. and will be truly missed..
Rest well Mummy till we meet again.

Oladele Ogunrombi

May 14, 2026

Godliness, Love, commitment, diligence, integrity, focus and humility passed in front of us in Mama Dr Oguronbi. We will miss her very much.

Reuben Ishaya Chuga

May 14, 2026

Mummy, you were an embodiment of love and selflessness that touched and uplifted many people within the family and outside the family.We all are greatly encouraged by the good deeds you imparted to all, with all these your achievements, which are too indelible for history to neglect. Mummy, sleep on till resurrection day when we meet.There will be no more pains and sorrows. Adieu.

Folashade Adetutu

May 14, 2026

Rev. Dr. Mrs. Deborah Jolade Ogunrombi: A Woman of Impact

The parting of Rev. Dr. Mrs. Deborah Jolade Ogunrombi is painful but all thanks to God for a life well lived and spent in His service both within the Church and in theological education parlance.

Mama Ogunrombi was a teacher who formed minds and shaped character. At the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, she taught with depth, clarity, and a pastor’s heart. She insisted on excellence because she believed the Church deserves leaders who can think, live, and serve rightly. Many who sit in pulpits and classrooms today were at a point under her direct influence.

Mama Ogunrombi, who was the first Dean of the Faculty of Education, NBTS Ogbomoso, brought order, fairness, and integrity to her work. In her hands, administration was ministry. She was firm yet kind, thorough yet approachable. Her word was her bond, and her life matched her office.

She was a woman of quiet strength, deep faith, and genuine care for people. Wife, mother, minister, and mentor who balanced all with grace. She showed us that you can lead, serve, and build without losing your integrity or your compassion.

Rev. Dr. Mrs. Ogunrombi has gone home to be with the Lord. Her legacy remains in the lives she touched, the standards she set, and the institutions she strengthened. May the Lord's blessings be upon the family and people she left behind. Amen.

Mama Ogunrombi is gone, but her work abides.

Rev Dr & Mrs Oluwafemi Amoran
Faculty of Education
NBTS, Ogbomoso.

Dr Oluwafemi S. Amoran

May 14, 2026

G.G. MA ( Great Grandma) as we fondly call her, she is a teacher and mentor per excellent who is principled and disciplined. My son, Joseph Okunade remain grateful to her for giving him her car in 2014 as a gift while he was a baby, saying she don't want rain and sun to affect her great grand son.
May the good legacies you leave behind outlive you.

Rev. Dr Abraham Okunade

May 14, 2026

Grandma, as per our last conversation, we are living our lives to honor the Lord.

It is hard to put into words the minutes, hours, days, and years you poured into my life and into the lives of so many others around you. You taught us not only to pursue excellence according to the world, but to live according to God’s Word.

I still remember imitating your recipes with leaves after watching you cook. I remember the trips to the market, where I learned simply by watching you—how you acted, spoke, and negotiated everything with wisdom and grace. Through you, I learned what it means to be a woman of faith who loves the Lord while making Proverbs 31 come alive in what seemed so effortless.

No matter the situation, you always turned to God first. Even on the days when your memory faded, you never forgot the Bible verses and hymns that had been deeply rooted in your heart.

Because you loved the Lord so faithfully, I am blessed to have a mother who is also a woman of faith. The legacy you created is one I pray God gives us the strength and grace to continue.

I love you. I miss you. And I am comforted knowing that you are home with the Lord, in peace and praise.

Till we meet again, to part no more.

Adenike Ajike

May 10, 2026

I’ve always known Grandma as a storyteller. Everytime we spent time with her, she always had a story to tell — whether it be fictional tales or memories from her past — and they filled me with so much joy.
I find that storytelling is a piece of her that I carry with me, something that will always keep us connected. I feel so blessed and privileged to call her my grandmother and to carry on her lineage.
May the lessons she taught me, the resilience she showed, and the impact she had on so many people be remembered for years to come.
May we meet again at the feet of Jesus.
Thank you for everything, Grandma. May your beautiful soul rest in perfect peace.

Ayo Ogunrombi

May 9, 2026

There is indeed a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens, a time to be born and a time to die.
Mommy, you lived a life of true impact, a life worthy of emulation. You didn't just touch lives, you built them. You raised champions, and I am profoundly proud to be one of them. Through your words and your walk, you taught us the pillars of a good life: hard work, diligence, honesty, and a disciplined love for family.
I dare say that your greatest lesson was your heart, you never discriminated, welcoming everyone with the same grace and dignity.
These values have shaped the man l am today. While words cannot capture the depth of my gratitude, the lessons you taught us will never be forgotten. They are written on our hearts forever.
Rest now, Mommy.

Akinwale Ajetunmobi

May 9, 2026

TRIBUTE TO DR. DEBORAH JOLADE OGUNROMBI
Mama Ogunrombi, as we fondly called her, was probably the oldest Deaconess, and I was the youngest of the first set of Deacons ordained in Calvary Baptist Church, Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria, in 1980. There was a generational gap between her and me. Despite the generational gap between us, Mama accommodated my youthful approach to issues we shared. She was not only older than most of us in the Diaconate, but she was also well-experienced and well-exposed. This experience and maturity she brought to bear in the spiritual and physical development of the Church. She was permanently an adult Sunday School Teacher and also served as the General Sunday Superintendent. She was perpetually the Head of the Church's Adult Literacy department, where adults learned to read and write, and some went on to earn University degrees in various disciplines. She applied her professional training as a teacher to positively impact the Church's spiritual and educational departments.
Mama Ogunrombi lived a sacrificial life for her family and others. She programmed her life and set her priorities right in the interest of her family. Even though she was an academic staff member at the University, she sacrificed her time and labour to the education, moral, and spiritual upbringing of her children. It was towards this end that she allowed her children to graduate from the University before she embarked on and obtained her PhD degree.
When her husband, Professor Ogunrombi, transferred his services from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Mama did not hesitate to relocate with him because she practised family togetherness. While in Ogbomosho, she was engaged as an administrator at the Nigerian Theological Seminary.
Mama believed in helping younger Christian families grow in their relationship. As a deaconess, she mediated in resolving family matters and conflicts between Church members. She was frank, forthright and just in her mediations.
Mama loved the Lord and people. She was always available to serve and minister to others. Her life was exemplary and impactful for many of us within the Christian faith, and even for unbelievers.
On behalf of my family and myself, we commiserate with her family and the Church. Mama has gone home to rest, and the baton has been handed to us to continue in the Christian race. May the Lord help each of us run the race to our Lord’s commendation in Jesus’ Name.
Good night, Mama. Till we meet to part no more.

Prof. & Prof. (Mrs.) C.A.M. Lakpini and Family.

Clarence Lakpini

May 9, 2026

*Mummy,*

I still struggle to find words that truly capture what you meant to me, but I will try, because you deserve to be honoured in the most sincere way.

Your journey on this earth was long, and it carried both strength and challenges that only you fully understood. Now, I find comfort in believing that you are finally at peace, resting gently where there is no pain, no struggle, and only rest in the presence of God.

Thank you, Mummy, for everything. Thank you for the warmth you filled my life with, for the care you gave so freely, and for the love that shaped my world from the very beginning. You were not just a mother in name; you were a true mother in action, in sacrifice, in patience, and in every quiet thing you did to make life better for me. Your love was never loud or showy, but it was constant, steady, and real. It was the kind of love that builds a home inside a person’s heart.

My precious Mummy, even in the moments when life became difficult and memories were no longer as strong as they once were, your love for me never faded. It remained intact, pure, and unwavering. I will always remember you as a woman who was kind, gentle, God-fearing, and deeply nurturing. You carried yourself with grace, even through pain, and you loved with a heart that gave without asking for anything in return.

You taught me what it means to love properly. You showed me that real love is patient, forgiving, selfless, and enduring. It is found in small gestures, in quiet care, in presence, and in sacrifice. Because of you, I understand love in a way I will carry for the rest of my life.

There is so much of you that will live on in me. In the way I think, in the way I care, in the values I hold, and in the strength I try to show. I will hold on to your memories tightly, not as something that hurts me, but as something that reminds me of how blessed I was to be loved by you.

Rest peacefully, Mummy. You lived a life of purpose, and that life continues to speak for you even now.

I am deeply grateful for you. I am grateful for your love, your lessons, and your presence in my life. I pray that your memories will continue to be a blessing to all of us, bringing us comfort, strength, and direction whenever we remember you.

Rest peacefully, Mummy. You will always be loved, always honoured, and forever remembered.

Amina Bello

May 9, 2026

As a child, I didn’t always understand the wisdom in all, the morning devotions and lessons disguised as holiday homework activities but now I do. Thank you Grandma, for the love, discipline, and foundation you gave us.
You will be deeply missed.

Esther Ojokojo

May 9, 2026

Your 90 years of life were a gift and a blessing to us all. Thank you for your love, wisdom, and the beautiful memories you gave our family. Your strength will never be forgotten. Though we will miss you deeply, your legacy will live on in our hearts forever.

Rest peacefully, Grandma.

Deborah Abimaje

May 8, 2026

Grandma was a pillar of love and wisdom in the ogunrombi family. Her life was a beautiful example of hardwork and unwavering faith. She gave so much of herself to others, always putting smile on our faces.
Though we mourn her passing we celebrate a life well lived. Rest well, Grandma.
Akinkunmi Ogunrombi (Grand son)

Akinkunmi Ogunrombi

May 8, 2026

Tribute to my Grandma
Grandma was a woman of strength and wisdom. She lived a life that touched everyone around her with kindness and generosity. Her words were always full of guidance.Though she is no longer with us, her love remains in our hearts. We will miss her dearly.
May her soul rest in peace.
Aderonke okunade (Granddaughter)

Aderonke Okunade

May 4, 2026

​A Tribute to the Mother of All Mothers
​Dr. (Mrs.) Deborah Jolade Ogunrombi
​Beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother
​Dearest Mummy,
​I was not prepared to write these words today. In my heart, I was preparing to celebrate your milestone 90th birthday this July. But I bow to the sovereignty of God Almighty, who does what is best in His sight. To Him be all glory and adoration.
​Mummy, I find myself short of words because I truly do not know where to begin. My mind goes back to the very first time I saw you, freshly arrived from the United States. I remember my heart connecting to yours instantly. I asked my mother, "Who is she?" and she told me, "She is my sister." From that moment on, you became a pillar for all your siblings’ children—blood and relative alike—and I was blessed to be among them.
​When other children went to live with you, I initially resisted; I was too attached to my own mother to leave her side. But when God destined you as the one to shape my future, He called my mother home. In my grief, I succumbed to His will and moved into your care.
​Living with you was nothing short of amazing. You nurtured me as your biological daughter. In your home, there was no segregation and no favoritism; you treated every child under your roof as one. You stepped into the gap my mother left when I was only in Primary 3, taking full responsibility for my journey through primary school, the university, and eventually my Master’s degree.
​Beyond my education, you and Daddy—of blessed memory—guided my path toward a career in a national organization, where I eventually retired as a Deputy Director. You were not just a mother; you were my mentor, my jewel of inestimable value, and a mother in a million.
​Today, I feel the same void I felt fifty-six years ago when my mother passed. But more than the loss, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Thank you for all you have done. You lived a life of profound impact, serving God with all your heart and transforming lives through His Word. You sacrificed your own comforts to lift the less privileged.
​Mummy, if it were possible to return to this life again, I would choose to come as your biological child. Your life is truly worthy of emulation.
​Goodnight, dear Mother, until the resurrection of the Saints.
​Adieu, Beloved Mother.
Sarah Taiwo Akanbi

Sarah Taiwo Akanbi

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