Remembering Mrs Margaret Comfort Omojowo Johnson (Nee King)
1932 November - 2022 September
Created by Franklin one year ago
Margaret Comfort Omojowo Johnson was born in Freetown Sierra Leone on 29 November1932.She was the first child of the late Edasaba Samuel King of Back Street Freetown, Sierra Leone. Her mother was the late Juliana Alba King (nee Stanley).Margaret was only 6 years old when her mother died. She was raised by her mother’s sister, the late Esther Aye Stanley, at No 6 Skye Street now Hannah Benka Coker Street. She was particularly attached to Aunty Aye, as she was commonly known, who did a remarkable job in bringing her up. She was also very fond of her late dad E. S. King, and her siblings of 7 Back Street.
Every Christmas, after church service, she would head straight to Back Street to see her dad and siblings to wish them Merry Christmas. And on the 1st of January every year she would join her siblings and the rest of the King family at Campbell Town Village for the New Year’s Day celebration. She continued this, like a ritual, until she came to the United Kingdom in 1996
Margaret attended the Annie Walsh Memorial School, St Joseph’s Convent and Methodist Girls’ High School respectively. After completing her secondary education, she trained as an accountant. She first worked at Kingsway Stores as a salesgirl. It was there, her late husband Modupeh Beresford Ebenezer Johnson saw her and wasted no time in marrying her. The union was blessed with three children, Mr Ivan Johnson in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Mrs Evelyn Venn and Mrs Violet Wellington in the United Kingdom, along with several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
After Kingsway Stores closed down, Margaret worked at Freetown Cold Storage as a Deputy Finance Officer. She then took the position of Finance Officer for a private company known as Hooks. When the owner of that company died she became the School Bursar at Methodist Girls’ High School, before becoming the Finance Officer at the YWCA School in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She worked in this capacity until she came to the United Kingdom in 1996.
Margaret was a devoted Christian who served in various roles at the Warren Memorial Methodist Church in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She was a church steward, a class leader and a chorister in the Choir. When she came to the UK, she quickly attached herself to the Holy Trinity Church in Southall and would attend church every Sunday unless she was ill. When her mobility started deteriorating, she ensured she went to the nearest church in her locality. She was raised to go to church every Sunday, and when she became ill and couldn’t attend church she felt very upset. However, she made sure she never missed Sunday services with Premier Radio and BBC Songs of Praise.
Margaret was a fantastic woman who understood that she had a purpose. She was not just a churchgoer, but demonstrated the Fruits of the Spirit. She practised her Christian virtues by embracing and demonstrating kindness, generosity patience, faithfulness, self-control and gentleness. Although she had three biological children, yet she cared for several others, some of whom she raised herself. She ensured she educated them to the highest level so that they would not only be a blessing to themselves but also to society as a whole. She looked after the poor and needy, opening her doors and arms to all. She looked down on no-one, welcoming those with mental health issues, the destitute and all sorts who came round to her home every week for food.
Everything Margaret did was based on love and good intentions. She was neither judgemental, jealous nor vengeful.
In her passing Margaret has left a legacy of love, kindness, gentleness, self-control, patience and faithfulness. She has been a light that shines in others through her exemplary nature. She has also taught us that there is always plenty of running water in the valley of humility.
May her beautiful and kind soul rest in perfect peace