Biography of Jumoke
Heritage & Childhood
Jumoke's parents were Olayinka and Kosonike. Olayinka Jackson's mum, Ajumoke, is from Abeokuta, Nigeria. Her dad Peter is from Isaleko, the center of Lagos Island. They were both Yuroba, with the Founders of the Jackson Family being Horatio Jackson and his brother (Journalists) who had migrated to Africa from the Baltimore, US in the 19th Century.
Kosonike's father was Reverend Herbert Thomas from Waterloo, outside Freetown. Kosonike's mother was Martha Logan from Freetown, with some of her family from Sherbro. This is Jumoke's heritage.
Jumoke was the second of 4 children. In her early years, till she became a teenager, she roamed through the Fourah Bay College campus, visiting Kaniyama, Ambah, Allison and other friends. She shared the house with several cousins and children of the neighbours, who drifted in and out of each other's homes - until lured back home by hunger at dinner time, or the shouts of our parents or nannies for study time.
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As a spirited child, Jumoke was kind and well-behaved, in the midst of her more rowdy and troublemaking siblings and cousins. She would climb trees avidly, hanging from the smallest branches to reach for the last mango; and drag 1 or 2 siblings on illegal secret expeditions with Kaniyama on picnics (without food) down bush paths behind the college. She was often called by adults to explain 'what was going on?', and managed to appease the adults, without upsetting the code of childhood, 'not to tell on the others'. Jumoke loved her friends.
Friendships
Jumoke expanded her circle of friends in secondary school, where she thrived with some friends from the FBC school (Valerie, Ngiao, Gloria,) and added several new friends from form 1 (4).
In her teenage years, she spent 2 years with her sister, Oyinda, in England, at boarding school. It was a challenging transition, but she showed her characteristically gentle yet strong will, and embraced the new environment. She joined her cousin Ola, and made new friends, including Adiba.
After leaving Brighton, Ju spent several years growing into a young professional woman in Leeds. She loved the city, and shared a vibrant community there, with her brother Nikyn, as well as relatives and friends such as Lola, Dennis, Bola, Alim, amongst others.
Jumoke moved to Newcastle with the small sierra Leone community (Rita) before moving back to Sierra Leone. In Freetown, as a young professional, she explored several opportunities at Ola During maternity hospital, and Mary Stopes clinic. She embraced being back home in Freetown and was happy to be able to work in the city she was born in. She met several old school friends back in Freetown, including her husband Wilfred Wright. She was forced to evacuate from Freetown, 2 years later, landing in London after a 3 year hiatus. Here she grew her new family, and created new friendships over the next few decades, as she made her home in South London. She rekindled her love for her Annie Walsh school classmates by becoming a dedicated member of the association.
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She lived an impacful and wholesome life until her passing on the 24th of August 2020. Jumoke will truly be missed, yet celebrated.
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Jumoke, may you rest in eternal peace with the Lord whom you loved and served earnestly.