Chief Mrs. Victoria Abayomi Oluyemisi Odofin Ogunmefun's Obituary
Chief Mrs. Victoria Abayomi Oluyemisi Odofin Ogunmefun was born in Lagos on February 24, 1958 to the late Chief Victor Oluwole Odofin-Belo and the late Reverend Olufunke Adenike Onabanjo. In her early years, Abayomi lived in Lagos and also in Ibadan, where she attended primary school at St. James Primary School at Oke Bola. Between 1969 and 1973 she completed her secondary school education at Molusi College, Ijebu Igbo where she excelled in academic and extra-curricular pursuits. She was a member of the literary and debating society as well as an athlete in track and field and netball, echoing her late father, himself an Olympic athlete in his youth. Following secondary school, Abayomi attended the former Federal Science School in Lagos where she completed her ‘A’ Levels. In 1976, Abayomi gained admission to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where she earned a Bachelor of Laws degree, graduating second class (upper division) in 1980 and winning two prizes: best female graduate and best student in Company Law. Abayomi subsequently attended the Nigerian Law School from 1980 to 1981 and passed the bar final examination with flying colors.
Abayomi was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 1981 and her legal career in Nigeria took off from there. Abayomi served her National Youth Service Corp as State Counsel for Cross River State Ministry of Justice in Calabar. Upon completion of her national service, she was employed in the Federal Attorney-General’s Office as a Federal Counsel by the Federal Ministry of Justice, Lagos and was deployed to the Federal Ministry of Education, Lagos as Assistant Legal Adviser. She joined the Legal Department of International Bank for West Africa, Nigeria Limited in 1983 as a legal officer. In 1986, she moved on to Great Nigeria Insurance Company (GNI) in Lagos where she held a series of increasingly senior positions as she established and helped build out a full-fledged legal department at the company. By 1991, Abayomi was serving as the Company Secretary and Legal Adviser. In August of that year, she resigned from GNI and immigrated to the United States of America.
In the United States, Abayomi embarked on a social work career spanning decades, proving herself a committed caretaker and advocate for the infirm, disabled and abused. At various times over the years, hers was the last face a dying man saw before returning to God, hers was the guiding presence helping a mentally disabled person survive one day to the next, and hers was the rescuing hand a child held on to as she accompanied that child to a safer home. She was a caseworker with the New Jersey State Department of Children and Families for ten years, and a resident counselor and program manager at various organizations in North, Central and South Jersey for over twenty years. Even as she excelled at social work, she never forgot her first love: the law. In 2012, she fulfilled a promise she made to herself all the way back in 1980 when she attended Georgetown University Law School’s “Orientation in the United States Legal System” summer program. With her children proudly cheering her on, she accepted her diploma at Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia, having earned a Master of Laws degree.
Abayomi was married on July 23, 1983 to Aderemi Ogunmefun, Bamofin of Odogbolu, at St. Peters Church, Ita-Faji, Lagos, followed by a reception chaired by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola. In October 1983, she gave birth to a daughter, Olufunmilola Ogunmefun, followed by two sons: Adetunji Ogunmefun in December 1985 and Olukayode Ogunmefun in May 1989. She was a devoted mother to her three children, working tirelessly to provide them with every opportunity to succeed in life, counseling them through their hardships and cheering on their accomplishments. She doted on her grandson, Aderemi C. Ogunmefun, born in January 2020. She was a second mother to her many siblings, and “Big Mummy” to her various nieces and nephews. She was also a dedicated caretaker of her beloved mother and father until their passing in 2016 and 2020, respectively. She was a treasured member of the community both in the United States and in Nigeria, earning the distinction of a “Distinguished Molusian” from her alma mater, Molusi College, and conferment of the title of Yeye Bamofin of Odogbolu.
Abayomi was a devout Christian, unshakeable in her faith even as she battled cancer for over a decade. In her younger days in Nigeria, she was an active member of St. Paul’s Church Breadfruit in Lagos. In the United States, she was an active member of Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Newark, New Jersey, where she sang in the choir. In her later life, she was a member of Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Beverly, New Jersey. Abayomi was also a great friend, naturally gregarious, endlessly warm and jovial and welcoming. She loved to bring people together, show them a good time, and she always did her best to make each person feel heard, seen and loved. In recent years especially, she devoted large portions of her time and effort to her former Molusi College classmates, composing birthday messages late into the night in order to be the first to wish a celebrant happy birthday, having colorful birthday cakes delivered to homes and helping organize reunion festivities.
Abayomi (“Mom”, “Sista mi”, “Big Mummy”, “Sisi Yemisi” and every other name she has been called) was a shining example of what every person should aim to be. She was kind, faithful, strong, intelligent, warm, loving and so very generous and brave. Truly, there are not enough words to describe the amazing woman that she was. With her passing, a titan has departed this earth, and though life marches on, it will never be the same.
Victoria Abayomi Ogunmefun passed away on March 29, 2022 at the age of 64.
A visitation will be held at Givnish of Cinnaminson, 1200 Route 130 North, on Saturday, April 9th, from 11 am to 12 pm, with a service beginning at 12 pm. Refreshments will follow.
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