They say you should never meet your heroes, but I’m eternally grateful I never got that memo. For me, my hero was Aunty Cee, and getting to know her from the wide-eyed wonder of childhood into the messy reality of adulthood was the privilege of a lifetime. My earliest memories of her are a whirlwind of unique home decor from her travels around the world, a well-wrapped headgear and a laugh that could silence a room not out of shock, but because everyone would stop to listen, hoping to be in on the joke. She was the adult who never spoke down to you. Instead, she’d make sure you had a conversation about any and everything. She didn’t just give advice; she armed you with wit. She taught me that a sharp, well-delivered quip was a better defence than any shield, and that kindness delivered with a side of humour could mend almost any fence. As I grew older, our conversations evolved; we spoke often about navigating the more baffling complexities of family, career and relationships. Her wisdom was never preachy; it was always packaged in a perfectly curated story from her own gloriously unapologetic life. She had the rare ability to make your biggest problems feel both profoundly important and hilariously trivial all at once. A phone call with Aunty Cecilia was a masterclass in perspective, leaving you feeling lighter, braver, and ready to face the world with a smirk. The world feels a little less colourful, a little less sparkly, without her in it. The jokes are a bit less frequent – Dela holds the fort quite well in this regard. But her legacy isn’t just in the memories; it’s in the way I now approach life— with a little more courage, a lot more laughter, and the unwavering belief that a well-timed, witty remark is a superpower. So, here’s to you, Aunty Cee. You were, and will always be, utterly brilliant. Da yie! From Dr. Kwesi Baffour Gyimah NEPHEW T R I B U T E 1 1946 MRS. CECILIA JOHNSON 2025 50 A Loving Farewell
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