TRIBUTE TO A DEAR FRIEND, GEORGE KORLEY BY ZENA AMPOFO TENKORANG

“Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you. Fate is at your elbow; make yourself good while life and power are still yours.”
~ Marcus Aurelius

Words fail me. I’m heart broken, we all are, the 79 ners. Your energy, vitality, was the fuel that brought the platform and “night train” to life. We are in shock and miss you badly. That hearty deep belly laugh, so happy and so infectious. You actually type out the hahaha! In your messages. My last WhatsApp message to you was commenting on how much I loved your typed out lengthy laugh and your response “Yes I prefer that to the imoji's. its just how I feel“.

We share so many memories from way back. Visits to the Kokomlemle house and the unending walks across the makeshift bridge to get me home. I remember your very personal call to comfort me when I lost mum and the things you remembered about her that I had even forgotten and your drive to Philly to meet my daughter and I. We hadn’t seen each other in decades but it felt like yesterday and we just picked up from where we left off. What joy! The love, the laughter, the stories that entertained and excited my daughter.

The visit to Ghana we looked forward to was not to be. You left without saying goodbye. We are all confused and feeling bereft. Your sudden departure has forced us all once again to confront the reality of life and it’s fleeting nature. It is instructive not to put much faith in tomorrow. You were passionate, a doer, you got things done and perhaps your work here is done. I don’t know, trying to make sense of it all .... but dear friend, all said and done

A true friend is never truly gone and the bond between friends is beyond the mortal world.

May the choir of angels meet you and may you have eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.
Till we meet again.

Zena