“ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 Ceci and I first met at Yaa Asantewaa Secondary School in Kumasi. We were two girls full of dreams and laughter. We were placed in different houses. I was in house two and she was in house three. After the ‘O’ levels we found ourselves in different secondary schools for sixth form. Cecilia went to Achimota and I went to St. Monica’s in Asante Mampong. Life took us in different directions for a while but we found each other at the University of Ghana and it felt like no time had passed at all. We were placed in Mensah Sarbah Hall and it was the first-time women were placed in that hall. We arrived on campus with our trunks only to realize that people had stopped using trunks and suitcases were in fashion. This made us laugh at each other. That started our journey on Legon campus ‘F’ block. From 1968 to 1971 we were inseparable. We did everything together like going to the dining hall and other places. The only time we argued was when we cooked and ate in our room and it came to washing the bowls. Ceci was elegant and used to wear hot pants which suited her because of her height. We used to walk to the dining hall for 3 meals a day. We used to be served by stewards in white attire and who wore white gloves, that’s when the other students called us the madam and her hand bag, because I was short and Ceci was tall. I had some friends in the Army who used to visit me. One of them, Major Johnson saw Ceci and fell in love with her. They got married In 1972 at St. Catharine Parish Church at Burma Camp and I was the Maid of Honour. Cecil had a great presence and high sense of humor and teased others as much as she laughed at herself. Ceci, you were not just my friend, you were my sister. I can still hear your laughter and see your smile as if it were yesterday. Those memories remained the happiest moments of my life. Med�fo pa Ceci Nanteyie, Onyame nfa wo kra nsie Fare thee well, my sister. From a Friend and Sister Mrs. Mary Hanson T R I B U T E 1 1946 MRS. CECILIA JOHNSON 2025 78 A Loving Farewell
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