When Shakespeare in his famous book Macbeth wrote and I quote “when beggars die no comets are seen but the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes”, it was like he had Mama Ezinne Isabelle Amarahiaugwu Gold Korie (Nee Agwatu) in mind when he penned those famous words.
Of course, but needless to say that he was spot on because Ezinne Nmaa Gold Korie’s death has woken the heavens to blaze forth her glory as she strolled into heaven.
Sitting with her son, a Scholar, Historian, and educationist of note, on Sunday (25/05/2025), one could imagine the love and bond Mama shared with her children and how the children felt, not minding her age.
Mama Gold can thus appropriately be described as a child of destiny from the bowels of her mother’s womb.
An appraisal of her life from the tender age of five when she lost her parents and became an orphan will reveal a woman destined from birth to play very important and strategic roles in her immediate environment especially family and society.
It is a thing of joy that she didn’t disappoint; hence, this celebration of a life well lived for God and humanity.
Born on 20th May, 1938 into the family of late Mr Ibejimemene & Mrs Ihudie Agwatu of Umuevu, Okirika nweke in Ahiazu Mbaise Local government Area of Imo State, Ezinne Isabelle Amarahaiagwu Gold Korie (Nee Agwatu) lost her parents at the very tender age of 5 and thus could not acquire any formal education.
So, from a very young age, she took on the responsibility of caring for other members of her family especially her niece who she became her surrogate mother though a child herself.
To get on in life since life itself dealt her a tough hand, Mama trained as a seamstress under Mrs. Oche of Akpim in Okrika Nweke in 1952, a profession often associated with fashion design until she married her late husband, Mr. Linus Onyegbule Korie at the age of 16 years. Due to her young age, she couldn’t get wedded to her husband so she spent the next two years with her family until she turned 18.
Their union was blessed with ten children, five males and five females, and they are all alive today by the grace of God
Ezinne Isabelle Amarahiaugwu Gold Korie was not just a wife but an entrepreneur who started her business of trading in tobacco between 1965 and 1972; obtaining goods from Umuahia and reselling locally. From 1972, she sold palm oil and continued in that for about a decade and was also a distributor of bread. She further engaged in other business activities, including farming and did not allow her limited resources to be a hindrance towards training her children and helping others.
Ezinne Gold was a devoted wife who cared deeply about her family and had the most challenging time of her life between 1967 and 1970 when her husband was conscripted into the Biafra army at Afoukwu market towards the end of the war. She, in her desperation to have her loving husband back set out with a few-month-old baby on her back and a basket on her head searched for her husband, risk notwithstanding leaving her other children in the care of one of her neighbours, one Mrs Grace Chidomere. That odyssey of hers was not just an act of self-sacrifice but a revelation of her deep devotion to her husband and family and endured her to her husband.
She was very supportive of her husband, a strong home builder, had great confidence, and was hard working till her death.
As she is being committed to mother earth, one is reminded that death remains humanity’s relentless and unyielding enemy.
No one, regardless of rank, strength or wealth has been able to escape death because as soon as we are born, death becomes our destiny. Many have tried but none has been able to develop its antidote. The reality of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ however, is that death has been defeated. It is no longer an impregnable enemy since Christ marched through the gates of Hades and claimed decisive victory over death, assuring us that as His fofollowers that we too share in His victory. Christians need not fear death.
Ezinne is not dead but has transited to share in the glory of God. Instructively John Donne in his poem, “Death Be Not Proud” wondered why death should gloat for sending people to sleep; to their eternal rest exactly where Nmaa Gold currently is.
Late Ezinne Isabelle Amarahiaugwu Gold Korie was an active member of the Roman Catholic Church from the Ihitteafoukwu parish, where she was a member of their Bible study group. Until her death, she was also a member of the Christian Mothers Association and a medallist (Ezinne title holder) conferred on her by St. Gregory’s parish, Ihitteafoukwu.
Throughout her lifetime, Ezinne Gold was a real definition of a virtuous woman; a mother to all (NNE Oha) and never discriminated against anybody. It is no wonder she is greatly loved by everyone who crossed her path. Indeed, she has a heart of Gold, very peaceful and practiced 100% of the biblical injunction in Hebrews 12:14, “Pursue peace with all people and holiness without which no one will see God”.
She also devoted her time to community service with her membership of various church groups, including CWO, Felicity, and CDIU and was the treasurer of the women’s group of her kindred until death and alongside her sister formed a mutual aid association that is still in its infancy. She taught her children and anybody who came close to her the virtues of perseverance in any situation and instilled in them the Spirit of oneness and love for each other.
She was a preacher of peace, even until her Last breath.
Ezinne Gold Korie, God has written the final chapter of your life, which will begin on your interment, as it ends here.
It’s so beautiful like the Bible says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying for pain. All these things are gone forever ” – Rev 21:4.
As you take your final journey to eternity where God will remove all your sorrows,
There will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. Such are reserved for us still here. We do not know as much as we would like, but it is enough to know that eternity with God will be more wonderful than we can ever imagined.
The profundity of John Donne’s poem “Death Be Not Proud” is appreciated more because with you, Ezinne, death died, “One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death thou shalt die”
Come Friday 13th June 2025, her family, friends, in-laws, relatives and well-wishers will beseach the Korie family home in Umuchieze Ihitteafoukwu to pay their last respect to a woman whose home was open to many that knew her
May her gentle soul continue to rest in the bosom of the lord until we meet to part no more. She is survived by her eleven children among who are Prof Chima J. Korieh, grand children and many other relatives.
