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COMMENDATION SERVICE FOR SIR PAULINUS UMEOKORO AT ST BARNABAS CHURCH OMAGBA, PH 2 ONITSHA, PONTIFICATED BY RT REV DR OWEN C. NWOKOLO...


"...he fought a good fight & finished his race...timely, not untimely...."
Rest in peace, "daddy d daddy"!!!

Tribute1 From Canon Izu Obiekwe ~
The Only Sir Paulinus of St Barnabas!
For the first time and incidentally at the occurrence of Sir Umeokoro's death, we thought of the literal meaning of "Umeokoro" as implying "strength, stamina, vigor, vitality of the youth", and he hailed from "Obodoukwu" which literally implies "the land of the great". Obviously, for those who knew Sir Paulinus closely, these names played out in his life and character.
 On our arrival at St Barnabas Parish Omagba Ph 2, Onitsha, as the Vicar in 2008, we met the handsome Sir Paulinus and beautiful Lady Patricia Umeokoro, and both were looking fair in complexion, always walking along and seating down conferring together, in perfect love and unity. Before and as at early 2008, Sir Paulinus was used to seating at the back pews/seats of St Barnabas Church with his dear friend, Chief Ben Ijezie(Benjas). 
But after a while, their seating positions changed from the back to the middle row and eventually to the very front pews directly facing the pulpit. By virtue of residing very close to the Church, he attended virtually every Church early morning and late evening activities/services, would endeavor to be punctual and contribute his own moral, spiritual and financial quota for the progress of the Church. He was indeed among those who saw the starting(genesis) and the completion(revelation) of this present aesthetic and exquisite St Barnabas Church building.

I still visualize his show of joy on 29th Nov, 2009, the day this house was dedicated. To the glory of God, he was among the "Four" that were nominated from St Barnabas after the 2010 Synod that was co-hosted by Omagba Anglican Community for the Knighthood of St Christopher and in the year 2011, he was Knighted in the presence of Rt Rev Ken Okeke and Rt Rev Dr Owen C. Nwokolo, emeritus and incumbent Bishops On the Niger respectively.

He had a disposition that easily identified with diligence, doggedness, cultivated friends and fancied both human and material beauty and elegance. He was easily attracted to boldness, courageousness, sincerity, straightforwardness, vigor and vitality.

His personality abhorred dullness, sluggishness, mediocrity and lukewarmness. And he would with "the strength of his youth" challenge or confront such abhorrent human traits irrespective of whose ox is gored.

Wow, "...How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!" (2 Samuel 1:25-27 KJV).

Well, Mitch Albom aptly posited that "Death ends a life, not a relationship...." Therefore, may your galant and love-laddened soul find rest eternal in the bossom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!!

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