Tribute by Estelle J. Asare
Sister-Friend of Charlene
“Herh, have you cried? ” – I can literally hear your voice and see the look on your face while looking at me over the rim of your glasses. You know me, Abi. When it hits hardest, the eyes are driest. But this time, I know I won’t be able to keep it together for much longer.
I never ” essperrit” as you and I used to say jokingly. The joke is on me now.
That, on that Sunday night at the hospital, when I placed your hospital gown on you and tied bows on your back, that it would be my last act of service to you while you lived. That when we laughed so hard our stomachs hurt and we disturbed the only other patient in the ward with our singing, that it was our last song together. Our “kokonsa” that night, the prayer, the notes on mom and the hug were really a goodbye? Wow. This is really happening Abi.
To know you was to have a window into your soul but never the entire door. You had many of us who called you “best friend” and to each of us you gave a window into your life. A view that felt so special that we felt we were the only ones who knew you.
Did anyone truly know the fullness of your essence? Looking back at your life, I sincerely doubt it.
Now the congregation of all the windows into your life has gathered here. Perhaps finally, we can create the wholeness and entirety of the picture that is Charlene Ewurabena Hamilton.
We met as strangers at a fuel station on our first trip to Holy Child school. Two innocent former one girls, in glasses and checkered dresses with our mothers and chop boxes, leaving home for the first time and that was the beginning of a lifelong friendship.
You had a gift that I admired so much. Your ability to create deep meaningful relationships with people in any community you found yourself in. Nothing fake or superficial. You got to the core of your friends, found our messy hearts and pitched tent there.
You were a receptor and confidante. Collecting information, stories, fears, problems, dates, joys, break ups, make ups, you name it and the reason why I honestly believe your friends are responsible for your early grey hairs.
You and I had the silliest of nicknames & memories. You remembered everyone and everything and I had a terrible memory, so we were perfect together. Abi, I’m so exposed now because who will I turn to and ask, ” What’s his / her name and where do I know them from?” And you will in turn respond with the full name, memory of how I know them and a time stamp if I even needed it.. Abi…this is hard.
Now reflecting on our lives, we perhaps never fully gave you all that you needed from us, but I hope that the aggregation of all the moments and love, gave you a relatively happy life.
If there was anything I disputed in your life, it was that you didn’t give yourself enough of what you gave others. The love, the care, the priority and the time -to just enjoy life for you.
Instead you emptied yourself out for your family, your friends, your work, your church .. everyone else but you. Abi… You also had dreams, hopes and plans. To go places, travel the world and do things … I’m so sorry we never pushed you hard enough to put yourself first. I’m comforted that God felt the same way and decided to give you the break you so very much deserved. We just didn’t want it to be given this way.
We could have done more. We should have been more. We would have done more. But nothing would have come close to the joy and peace you have now in heaven.
So today I thank you for sharing a large window into your beautiful life with me. For priceless memories and belly laughs.
As we say to each other whenever we’re leaving one another- ” Peace Out- A-Town”;
“Abba-Nabs”. I love you Abi. Always will.
Tribute by Christiana Corquaye
Friend of Charlene
I climbed the Angels Hill quite early that saturday morning and I was assigned to Our Lady’s House D5. Charlene was already in the dorm unpacking her stuff into her locker when I walked in and that was the beginning of our sisterhood. And oh! What memories we created! From Holy Child, through KNUST and in our adult life until her untimely demise. We had a lot in common and we were often paired for our weekend house duties. From our early morning washing of clothes together with Nana Agyeman in F1 on Fridays, to complaining about Ama Sakyi’s noisy alarm clock and making fun of Kuukua’s nkatie burger wahala with Sister Akosua, having you relax on my bed in D3 while we laugh about some argument between the great Lowork and Matilda Tagoe and you visiting me every day in D5 when I had to move back there with the red and brown F1 printers. During vacations, we moved from your house to Juliet’s and in Oko’s house, he would tell us a Nigga J story which often made us laugh.
In KNUST, being in different halls had nothing on us. We expanded our circle of friends. Being flatmates in Gaza KC Flat 9 with all the drama is one for the history books. That missing bowl of stew saga was the icing on the cake which Papa Ako can never stop talking about. I became your google map as your sense of direction was terrible! Gosh! Sakaman and Laterbiokorshie were not that far apart thus we often went to places together. We executed projects together and we were a formidable organizing duo. Abi, thank you for being a support on the HOPSA executive team. We found ourselves in the same team and while it lasted, we did have a swell time. It is rather unfortunate you have left me when we were yet to execute our biggest project ever come 2028! Oh! The plans we had already cooked! But God knows best. Who will mention my name in full and reprimand me to behave when I go on a viper roll? Please warn Rina and Lesley to behave in your absence.
I thank God for making our paths cross. Glad to have been there for you and grateful to have \had you in my corner from 2001 till your heavenly call. Life was just beginning for us as the adage says but alas! Your calm demeanour and spirit will always stay with me. I miss you Ewurabena. We thank Our Father Almighty for the time we had you here with us on earth.
Thank you for being my sister! My “Tina”, “Abi pompo”, rest in power! May the Lord keep you!
Rabs, until we meet again, with our signature sign off, “Peace out!” ‘”A-Town”! “AbaNabs!”
Love you loads!
– Anyema Christie
Tribute by Francis Oko Amarteifio
Brother of Charlene
My twin was terrified of knives when we were kids and I thought it was funny to terrorize her with a knife one day. She ran out of the house out of the house, half naked, me running after her laughing. That’s how you met me for the first. You just stood there shaking your head smiling like, “this boy is a damn fool.” In that moment we were destined to be the best of friends. Even more than that we became family; the kind of family that transcends blood.
I selfishly think of you as my best friend and only mine but truth is you were everyone’s best friend. You had an unnatural gift of reading, understanding, and accepting people. You knew when we were being real and also saw right through the BS when we were secretly up to no good. All you had to do was give the side eye and say mmm hmm, and before you know, we’re confessing our sins to you.
Your rebuke was always gentle and you never judged. You were slow to anger and quick to forgive our transgressions. In you we all found a confidante and counselor. You were the gate keeper to all our secrets and the one all of us ran to in times of trouble. In you we found comfort, reassurance, and peace.
There are some people who walk into your life and become family long before you ever realize it. That was Ewurabena for me. She wasn’t just my best friend — she was my sister in every way that truly mattered. From the beginning, she carried a gentleness that could calm storms and a comforting spirit that made even the hardest days feel lighter. She loved deeply, quietly, and selflessly, always placing her mother, her friends, and her faith before herself.
- To know her was to know kindness. To laugh with her was to feel joy. To sit with her was to feel seen. She had a way of listening that made you believe you weren’t alone in anything, and a way of loving that made you want to be a better person.
Losing her feels like losing a part of my own heartbeat, but even in this pain, I’m grateful. Grateful that God allowed our paths to cross. Grateful that I got to protect her, argue with her, laugh until we cried, and stand beside her as a brother. Grateful that her love shaped me into a better man.
Today, we honor her beautiful life — her music, her books, her smile, her warmth. And now, just as she spent her life caring for all of us, it’s our turn to care for her memory and especially for her mother, whom she cherished beyond words.
Rest well, my sister. Your light will never fade in the lives you touched. And as your brother, I will carry your love, your laughter, and your strength with me always.
– Amarteifio
Tribute by Lesley (Bogyah) Sekyere
Friend of Charlene
To be honest, I don’t even really know how to begin. There’s so much I could say about her kindness, her strength, her stubbornness, her love. None of it will ever fully capture what it felt like just to know her. To be loved by her.
Charlene was selfless in the purest way. She was the kind of person who gave everything she had to others, even when she was struggling herself. She never looked for recognition. She never asked for much. She just… showed up. Over and over again.
Back in SSS, life was not always kind to me. There were days I didn’t think I could take one more comment, one more hate for no apparent reason. But then there was Charlene. She made life bearable. She stood between me and the world when I needed someone to. She didn’t let me drown in that loneliness. She just took me in, protected me, cared for me like a mother would. She had that quiet kind of power, that deep, steady love. And somehow, she made it look easy.
And it wasn’t. Life gave her a lot to carry. Her health was fragile, and still she spent so much of her time caring for her own mother. She didn’t get breaks. She didn’t get shortcuts. And still, she gave. She fought. She loved.
She was Zahra’s godmother, and not just in name. She loved her with a depth and devotion that showed in everything she did. And when it came to Kwaku, she was his biggest cheerleader, even when he was doing something I didn’t fully support. She had this way of seeing the best in people, even when others couldn’t. Even when I couldn’t.
She stood by me, even when I was in the wrong. She never walked away from me. She held me accountable, yes, but with love. With loyalty. Always with love. That’s just who she was.
We didn’t always agree, especially when it came to her asking for help. She didn’t know how. Or maybe she did, but she just didn’t expect anyone to actually be there for her. Too many people had let her down in the past. And that broke my heart. Because she deserved so much more than she ever received.
I always told people about Charlene. Any real friend of mine knew who she was. That’s how close we were. She was part of me, not just a part of my life. My sister in every way that matters. My mother and my sister wrapped into one.
We had plans. Simple ones… to rest, to laugh, to finally have some peace when things got better. And now, those plans are on hold. I still carry them, though. I carry them with the love I have for her, and I always will.
I’ll miss our texts. Our random messages. Our phone calls, where we could talk about everything and nothing. I’ll miss the feeling of knowing she was just a message away. I’ll miss hearing her voice when I go home to Ghana. It’s going to feel quieter now.
But Charlene, if you can see this, I hope you know how much you meant to me. How much you still mean to me. You were never just a friend. You were family. You still are.
Thank you for loving me. Thank you for standing by me.
Now it’s your turn to rest.
Your baby girl,
– Nana Yaa
Tribute by Marina Lamptey
Friend of Charlene
Charl… my Char Char… I met you when I was just a “reserved” Form One girl in Holy Child, and from that very moment, you never took your hands off me. You claimed me as yours without hesitation.
You and Christie would force me to finish my meals because I refused to eat anything in the dining hall. The two of you would sit with me no matter how late it was and make sure I ate every bite. My two sisters who always protected me… Christie, the diplomatic one, and you, Charl,the no-nonsense, blasting one. LOL! You and Christie, along with a select few, made secondary school feel safe for me. You made it bearable.
Charl… you wanted to make sure I’d be okay when you were gone. Just a week before you left, you checked on my mental health… and I didn’t even realize why. I’m not okay. I don’t think I ever will be okay without you. You and my mum planned everything for me. You never needed me to be present, I trusted your judgment completely.
You protected me. Fought for me. Cheered me on. Loved me wholeheartedly. You were my personal FBI agent, you knew everyone and everything. I introduced all my friends to you, and just like that, they became yours. You knew where all the bodies were buried.
We could see each other and still go home and stay on the phone for hours and hours. Never an awkward silence, never a moment where we didn’t have something to say. Our conversations were endless and effortless.
But even in all this pain, I’m comforted that you’re with the best of the best, because His Word says:
“If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there.”
Psalm 139:8 (NLT)
Charl… ours wasn’t a loud friendship, but it was one of the most impactful, one of the most life-shaping sisterhoods I’ve ever known. You were a true big sister in every sense, protective, loving, observant. You showed up for every milestone in my life. Every single one. I looked forward to your birthday every year just so I could tease you. And you, hating every gift I gave you, practically fighting me each time.
You embodied what it meant to pour out your heart. With you, I NEVER had to second-guess anything. I always felt safe. That’s rare for me, Charl. That safety… that trust… that ease… I’ll miss that forever.
Charl… who do you want me to call now when I get into a funk?
Who will force me to go to the hospital and demand evidence that I actually went?
Who will threaten me every time I go ghost?
My emotions have been everywhere. I even feel guilty laughing because that’s what we always did together. You stayed on the phone with me for over three hours while I fixed my car.
Who will send me pictures from the HOPSA reunion now? Who will call me on their way to Cape Coast just to gist?
Charl… hmmm. Come back oh.
Christie has taken over and is now blasting me…
I miss you, big sister. I miss you in ways I don’t even know how to put into words.
Love you forever,
– Rina.
Tribute by Elizabeth Asare(Aunty Betty)
Aunty of Charlene
“What no one ever saw or heard.
What no one ever thought could happen; is the very thing God prepared for those who love Him.
Who knows the mind of the Lord?
Who is able to give Him Advice”
– 1st Corinthians 2 vrs 9- 16.
My dear Ewurabena, Charlene, Rabbi’s death is as startling and confusing as anything as anyone could think of. It also confirms the powerlessness of Man when it comes to our relationship with our Maker.
When I think of my dear Charlene’s death, I am at a loss. Another Manifestation of how God suddenly put a stop to the worker He has assigned a Divine work in His Vineyard on Earth? When I look at Charlene’s life after schooling, Her dedication to God’s work, her Selfless service to people around her, I marvel.
Indeed God takes His Chosen ones away early, lest the World will corrupt them. I got to know Charlene from her Secondary school days in Holy Child School through my daughter Estelle, through KNUST and after Schooling.
She was my Special daughter .
She was caring,loving and understanding.
She was an ORGANISER PAR EXCELLENCE!!!!
She was a born leader with a high sense of Integrity.
Charlene could not stand lies and will not allow it. A trait usually associated with upright people.
These attributes manifested all aspects of her relationships, family, Church,workplace and associations. EWURABENA, your sun has set extremely soon at age 40 the prime of your life, but the Lord knew that you had finished your assignment on Earth. Lord we know your Chariot of Fire was by her bedside on that fateful Day when the Holy Spirit and the Angels took her away and where she is pondering over the Nothingness of this life below !!
CHARLENE, we appreciate all that you did for God and for Mankind. Fare Thee Well Soldier of Christ,Fare Thee Well Torch Bearer of Christ, Fare Thee Well Servant of Mankind. We love you, But God loves you Best of all.
My dear Ewurabena, My dear Charlene Rest in Peace in the Bosom of your Maker.
” NOW THE LABOURER’S TASK IS O’ER
NOW THE BATTLE DAY IS PAST
NOW UPON THE FARTHER SHORE
LANDS THE VOYAGER AT LAST.
FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING,
LEAVE WE, NOW YOUR SERVANT SLEEPING.”
REST IN PEACE MY DEAR CHARLENE.
DAMIRIFA DUE!!!!!
– Aunty Betty
Tribute by Edith Schandorf
Friend of Charlene
The mornings are the hardest. I wake up everyday with you on my mind, Charlene.
The questions, the regrets, the guilt… All very glaring in the mornings. Dealing with your absence is louder than any noise I have heard. I miss you every day and it sucks that I may never see you again.
If anyone had given me a heads up about your death, I would have laughed, because I never imagined you and absence in the same sentence. You were always there, present, listening, teaching, and laughing with me. You have stood with me in times when a lot others turned away. You have fought battles on my behalf in rooms where I have never been. You have laughed with me over the silliest of jokes and held my hand through the toughest of times. You were my cheerleader, always with
your pom-poms egging me on.
I am not entirely sure how you expect me to carry on like you were not a huge part of my life. I do not know what you expect me to do now, Ewurabena. I miss you, have I told you that already? I wish I had said more of that when you were here. I am ever so glad that our paths crossed. I am thankful that you gave off yourself so selflessly to me. I am so glad that you called me your sister. I am grateful for all the memories we shared. Our million and one gossips sessions will be missed. All the screenshots will be left in my camera roll with no one to go to.. For now, this makes no sense at all…
I know someday I will wake up and it might be easier, because I might accept that you indeed needed to rest. For now, it hurts, but I want to believe you are peaceful. I only wish you had shown me a sign, but that is okay, I forgive you, we can battle it out when I see you in Heaven someday.
Rest well, Charlene.
Your girl,
– Dita ❤️.
Tribute by Emefa Apawu
Friend of Charlene
My dearest Miss Hamilton ,
It still feels unreal to write these words to you instead of with you. You were never supposed to leave this soon. You were supposed to be here laughing that soft, contagious laugh, checking in on everyone, and wrapping us in your warmth the way only you could.
Charlene, you were more than a friend; you were an angel among us. You had this way of making everyone feel special, seen, and understood as though your heart had room for us all. You never tried too hard; you simply loved, effortlessly. Your kindness had no boundaries, and your spirit, so beautiful and pure, touched lives in ways you probably never even realized.
Since you left, the world feels a little dimmer. There’s a silence that follows me around in moments I’d normally share with you, in words I still wish I could say. I keep thinking I’ll wake up and see a message from you, one of your gentle check-ins, or hear your laughter cutting through the noise of an ordinary day. But instead, I’m left with memories precious, vivid, and painfully beautiful. But I take solace in the fact that…
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18
You were light, Ewurabena. You brought peace where there was chaos, joy where there was heaviness, and love where there was distance. You had this rare gift of connecting deeply with everyone you met leaving a mark that time will never erase.
You were the true definition of the words, “Your secrets are safe with me.” And indeed, you took them with you to your grave. You were loyalty personified, steadfast, trustworthy, and true to the very end.
Your sudden departure has left an emptiness that nothing can fill. Yet, even in this grief, I find comfort in knowing that heaven has received one of its finest. I can almost picture you there radiant, smiling, still spreading light in your quiet way.
Thank you, my dear friend, for the love you gave so freely, for the laughter, for the care, and for being a gentle reminder that angels truly do walk among us. You will forever be part of me woven into my story, my prayers, and my heart and I’m glad I always told you I love you.
Until we meet again… Rest beautifully, my English madam.
Rest well, my Support System.
Rest in power, my personal counselor.
With all my love,
– Emefa
Tribute by Miss Naa Ashami
Friend of Charlene
Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of Charlene’s life and for the love she poured into all of us. As she rests under the shelter of Your wings, keep her in Your perfect peace and surround her with Your everlasting light. Strengthen us in the days ahead and cover us with the same comfort You promised in Your Word. Help us honor her memory by living fully, loving deeply, and walking in purpose—just as she did. Amen.
Charchar, I won an award for public engagement today. Can you imagine? If not for you, would that ever have been possible? I hope you are proud and smiling in heaven. Thank you for everything you did to get me to where I am today.
I can’t believe that this is the last long-winded letter or paragraph I’ll ever get to write to you.
These last few weeks have been surreal. I’ve tried to make sense of this new reality, but I fail
miserably every time. How can you be gone? How have we had our last conversation? Our last car ride? How was seeing you in August the last time I will ever see you? Had I known, I would have driven around longer, kept the conversation going instead of leaving it
hanging—obnoxiously assuming we would pick it back up where we left off.
I hope you knew how much of an impact you had on my life. You were my life manager, my
counsellor, my friend, and my big sister. Who will tell me to “know my audience”? Who will
encourage and support all my ventures? You were the one I knew I could always count on—the one who would tell me the truth, no matter how hard it was to hear, but always with love. You pushed me to be better and to put in the work, regardless of how hard I fought back.
I will miss our endless conversations spanning endless topics. I will miss our “invisible” behind- the-scenes work at church and the assignments—oh, how I will miss hearing you say, “I have an assignment for you.” I’ll miss our after-service food hunts and drop-offs, our Fairway trips, and our in-car vibing sessions to our favourite early 2000s songs. I’ll miss hearing the countless stories about your days in Holy Child and the KNUST family. I will miss you so much. There is so much I want to say—so many emotions I want to pen down—but would I ever finish writing? People say “it is well,” and I can’t help but scoff and wonder: did they really know you?
Did they truly understand how much of a pillar you were to so many of us? If they did, they
would know that it can never truly be well. Without you here, many of us will never be the same. We will never watch certain shows without thinking of you, drive by certain places without you crossing our minds, or hear an Usher or Sarkodie song without imagining you singing along. Will I be able to bake another ginger cake without shedding a tear? Probably not—but I’ll smile when I remember the first day you asked if I could bake it and I said no. Will I ever hear the name Peninsula and not think of our epic, uncharted road trip? Impossible. And will a year ever come to an end without me feeling sad at the thought that I’ll now only buy a 12-month diary for one ( and not the 18-month one—because you hated those)? No. But every time I look at mine
and open it, I’ll be grateful that we had something that was ours.
Thank you for your kindness and gentleness. Thank you for your wisdom and grace. Thank you for your love and your generosity. Thank you for your steady encouragement and support.
Thank you for your friendship and the gift of sisterhood. I am so sorry you never got your wall sticker.
“For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” — Psalm 91:11–12 (KJV) I take comfort in knowing that His angels truly have charge over you now, and that they have lifted you gently into His presence.
Charchar, I don’t know how to end this. I really don’t.
You were a blessing to so many and the glue that held us all together. I will carry you with me
daily, and I promise to make you proud. You fought a good fight and finished your race. I know heaven welcomed you in style and rejoiced in your achievements.
Rest in the comforting arms of our Lord, my dear friend. Gods got you now—and we’ve got
Mummy.
All my love, CharChar.
—Miss Ashami
Tribute by Mensima Wilmot
Friend of Charlene
Every March 26th during our Holy Child School days was a day to look forward to because
we would get some lovely cake to eat. Charlene was one of the sweetest and most reliable
friends you could have.
Just a few weeks ago, my daughter was telling me of a new classmate called Charlene. So I
mentioned to her that my friend is also called Charlene Hamilton. Then she screamed and
said, “My classmate is also Charlene Hamilton!”; As fascinated as I was, I called Charlene and told her to mention her full name. My kids were shocked in the car, thinking we were
playing a fast one on them.
Charlene had a fun chat with my kids and invited us for lunch at Polo Heights. She promised
the kids she would come to the school to look for the young lady who has "stolen her
name." Little did I know that was our last phone call.
Ewurabena, though we didn’t get to have our lunch date, thank you for always being
thoughtful. Rest in perfect peace, sweetheart. Till we meet again.
– Mensima Wilmot
Tribute by Sarah Davis Crabbe
Friend of Charlene
Our journey began back in Holy Child School, on a day I will never forget. She walked up to
me in the first week with her boldness and quiet confidence and said, “We are going to be
friends.” I remember being in awe of her courage, her warmth, and the ease with which she
embraced people. From that moment, our story began. I also had the privilege of being in
the same science class with her.
We bonded over countless moments—school adventures, holidays spent laughing and
having lunch dates at Frankie’s, the joy of living close by. I gained not just a friend, but a
sister in Ewurabena. That bond only deepened when we studied Biological Science together
at KNUST. Looking back at our university journey, I am filled with pride. We truly made a
difference together—the squad, SRC: Sarah, Ruby, and Charlene. Our sisterhood will never
be the same again.
Even after I moved abroad, the distance never dimmed our friendship. Charlene was always
there—steady, loyal, selfless and present. Whenever I was in trouble, needed reassurance
or advice, she was the first person I could count on. We promised to have monthly dates,
and she never failed to keep her word. She would call and say, “ Me I’ve called you as
promised.” I will miss our Fante catch-ups, our long ‘gisting’ calls, and the laughter that
flowed so easily between us.
Charlene was loyal to a fault—always making sure I didn’t feel left out, always updating me,
sending photos, standing in the gap in prayer with me. Oh how I will miss the video calls that
start with … Sarah guess who I bumped into and then a familiar face pops up!
My heart is shattered, and the weight of this grief feels unbearable. Yet, in the midst of this
pain, I remain deeply grateful to God for her life and for the light she brought into ours.
Thank you, Ewurabena, for the countless memories, the joy, the sisterhood, and the love I
will cherish forever. Your passion for the things of God was admirable. Truly, you fought the
good fight, you finished your race, and you kept the faith.
I will miss you more than words can say, but I rejoice in knowing that you rest safely in the
arms of the Lord.
Rest well, my special Rabs.
Rest easy, Ewurabena.
Rest in peace, Charlene.
– Sarah Davis Crabbe
Tribute by Maame Yaa (MYA)
Friend of Charlene
Dear Charlene,
Thank you for being a sister and friend. God made no mistake bringing you to SMDPS and into
my life. You were the “big sister” I’d wished for, and there you were, an answered prayer.
Seems like yesterday when we were together in Form 3 and took our BECE. We studied
together, both prefects, and part of the Bandana Girls. Remember the slam books we had? I’ve
been reading everything you wrote.
After JSS, there was rarely a day we didn’t see each other. SSNIT Flats to Blue Lagoon was our
favorite route and all the SSNIT taxi rank drivers knew where to take us without us having to
say a word. The morning drop offs by my dad, sakora waakye and our morning traffic jam in
your moms car. The many songs that remind us of each other, I’ll forever hold dear.
The bond you shared with Auntie Frances was one of my first real examples of a mother-
daughter bond and for that, I’m eternally grateful.
From getting into trouble for staying out too late, to looking forward to each other’s weekly
letters in Senior High School, to secrets I’ll hold near and dear forever, to being world apart, you
have remained a CONSTANT.
So many memories, Ewurabena, and we were only getting started…again.
Thank you for a heart that was always open. Thank you for holding on and never giving up on
those you loved. Thank you for sharing your world, your mum and giving yourself so freely.
If I could only have one more day with you, I’d hold on a little tighter and say to you all the things
that were left unsaid. If I could hear you laugh one more time, I’d listen more intently. But I know
you’re in a better place, so I’ll hold on to all the beautiful memories and carry you in my heart till
we meet again.
Rest Well, Abi
Love Always,
Maame Yaa (MYA)
Tribute by Adjoa Yeboah(AY)
Friend of Charlene
A year ago I watched my friends mourn the passing of their friend. He was active in church, a singer and a baker. I remember the shock when I found out he had passed, especially because I had seen a couple of posts of his a couple of days prior. The saying that goes when you see your neighbor’s beard on fire, get a bowl of water next to yours? They didn’t lie.
I can’t get the scene out of my mind. Shouting at you as you lay there. Begging God to bring you back to us. This was not the plan. We laughed at you following my voice back but I guess plans changed on your end. You broke my heart that Monday, Charlene. You didn’t give me the chance to say a proper goodbye.
It was so easy when we met. We bonded over a bunch of things. You quickly became my big sister, moral compass and biggest supporter. You wouldn’t hesitate to correct me when I was wrong and you always had a way to make me understand you weren’t judging me.
I’m going to miss coming to you with the most random ideas, facts and content. I’ll miss the drives searching for foreign goods, discovering new food places and trying them out after work and the random ice cream drives. DWP, ShxtnGigs, Usher thirst traps, sneak dissing peoples content as if we were pros at the game, our eyes locking when something happens no matter where we are in a room… Ei.
I was looking forward to making you realize that this time you didn’t have to stress too much because I had come back with a plan. I wasn’t going to stress you too much. No need to shout my name and ask me to confess. It was time to push you to do the stuff we’d talked about for months. But life had other plans.
I miss you every single minute. It took these past of couple of days for me to realize you were a constant in my day to day activities. I guess I have to adjust to the silence now.
I wish I forced you to take more pictures with me. I was so sure you were going to be around forever. Hm.
I bless God our paths crossed and I’m grateful that I got to experience you in totality. I know you’re smiling down at us but please, this one time? Make sure you’re actually resting. Cos when I eventually join you, back to factory setting ❤️
– AY
Tribute by Thelma Darkey
Friend of Charlene
Charlene, ours was a sisterhood that I thought would never end. I never thought for once that I’ll do the rest of my life without you in it. You’ve been part of every milestone, every important thing, you’ve always been there for me.
Who needed a counselor when they had Ewurabena? Whenever words failed me, when I didn’t know what to do or say, you always had the right word to say, the perfect advice. Hmmm….
I’m selfish, yes, since our friendship begun I have been, and you had always been the selfless one. Even now, my selfish self is mad that you have left me all alone to do the rest of life.
I wish our last ride together had not been to the hospital to be taken away from me. I wish I had driven you far away and begged you not to do it. Wishes… I wish you were still here with me.
I’ll miss you Charlene, my truest and dearest.
Thank you for showing me what true friendship is.
I love you Bingo, forever and a day.
– Thelma
Tribute by Achiaa Amoako Mensah
Friend of Charlene
My dearest Charlene… my Abi.
How do I begin to honour a friendship that shaped every corner of my life? I have been sitting with the weight of your absence, searching for the right words, realising that nothing I write will ever be enough to hold the fullness of what you meant to me. But still, I will try, because you deserve to be spoken of with the same tenderness and honesty with which you lived.
Charlene was my sister in every way that mattered. Our bond was born in the corridors and dorm rooms of Our Lady’s House, stitched together by conversations that stretched past lights-out and by laughter over stories only the two of us found funny. Even then, there was a rare, instinctive understanding between us. We discovered each other through words, imagination, and a shared inner world shaped by wit, intelligence, and humour. From that beginning, we never let go of each other.
She was a big sister when I needed guidance, a gentle mother when I needed grounding, and a loyal friend in every moment in between. She kept all my secrets with a sacred kind of loyalty, holding every fear, every flaw, and every version of myself I was still growing through. She never once allowed any of them to change the way she loved me. She simply made room for every part of who I was.
Over the years, we created our own universe. We had nicknames for almost everyone and everything, and somehow, she remembered every single one of them. She teased me endlessly for confidently butchering song titles or inventing my own just because the real ones didn’t sit right with me. Even now, I can hear her laughing, gently correcting me, amused and exasperated in the way only she could be. Those small and silly moments have become some of my most precious memories.
Charlene shaped the biggest parts of my life. She was the one who introduced me to my husband, seeing a possibility in that connection long before either of us did. And when Maame Pokua arrived, choosing Charlene as her godmother felt as natural as breathing. She was already our family long before my daughter took her first breath. She loved Maame with a tenderness that still brings me to tears, and my child will grow up knowing she had a godmother whose love was pure, joyful, gentle, and true.
She was the person I called instinctively, to celebrate my joys or to steady me in my storms. There are parts of me that only she understood, parts she held together, parts she made better simply by being in my life.
Charlene, I do not know how to walk through this world without you, but I know that your love has folded itself into who I am. You were my sister, my confidante, my compass, and my safe place. I miss you with an ache that feels impossible to name, and I am grateful beyond words that the last thing you ever heard from me was “I love you.”
Rest well, Ewurabena. Thank you for choosing me, for shaping me, for loving me. I will carry you with me for the rest of my life. You were my person. You still are. And you always will be.
Thank you for being my sister in this life.
Thank you for every secret kept, every truth told, every joke shared, every comfort given, every memory made.
I will honour you for the rest of my life.
I will keep your stories alive.
And I will carry your love with me always.
Rest well, Abi.
I will miss you forever,
but I will love you even longer.
– Achiaa
Tribute by Nana Agyeman Prempeh
Friend of Charlene
Charlene has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember — from the days we were just two eight-year-old girls in Sunday School, sitting under the gentle, unforgettable guidance of Aunty Emmy, whose legacy still lives in us.
We grew up together, walked the same paths at Holy Child School, wore the same house colours, shared the same dormitory nights, laughter, tears, dreams and sisterhood that only a HOPSA bond can explain.
Charlene’s heart was anchored in faith. She loved church, loved God deeply, and lived with a grace that showed it every single day. She carried that strength quietly but powerfully, and everyone who knew her felt it.
To her dear mother, our Aunty Frances, she will never walk alone. The HOPSA sisterhood will hold her, support her and stand by her, just as Charlene would have wanted. Charlene was a friend of a lifetime. A light. A steady presence. And even though her journey on this side is complete, the love she sowed in all of us will keep rising.
May her beautiful soul rest in perfect peace!
– Nana Agyeman Prempeh
Tribute by Dr. James Leslie (Abeiku) Arthur
Cousin of Charlene
I am here today with a heavy heart to honour someone who meant so much to me. My cousin, my sister, my friend, Charlene.
She was a truly good person. She was always there for me, especially when my dad died. She made sure I was okay, even on days when I struggled. Her presence was steady, warm, and full of care.
During my housemanship, she would come and pick me up after work, even though it cost her extra. She never complained. She showed her love through simple acts of kindness.
She listened to me, even when I was not making sense. She accepted me completely. She was the cousin I was closest to, and someone I could always talk to.
What pains me is that I lost her before I could fully show her how much I appreciated her, and how much she meant to me.
Today, I want to say it clearly. God bless you, Charlene, for everything you did for me. Thank you for being there for me.
Rest in perfect peace. You will always remain in my heart.
– Abeiku
Tribute by Laura Quaigraine
Sister of Charlene
There are no words that can fully capture the depth of my love and gratitude for you. You were not only my little sister, but also my dearest friend; the one who always seemed to know the answers to most things concerning me. From our earliest days of laughter and mischief to the quiet moments we shared in later years, every memory with you is a treasure I will carry for the rest of my life.
Your laughter was contagious, your kindness endless, and your strength nothing short of inspiring. You taught me what it truly means to live fully and love deeply even in the face of life’s hardest moments.
Together, we celebrated joys and weathered challenges. We built a lifetime of stories that are now the jewels of my heart; from our days at Holy Child, to our long walks between each other’s homes with Oko happily tagging along, and even our most recent catchups on WhatsApp, where we would laugh and talk about whatever was happening in our lives. Each of those moments, simple as they may have seemed, now shines with extraordinary meaning.
Though you are no longer here in the way I wish you were, I feel your presence everywhere; in every memory we made, in every person whose life you touched, and in every quiet whisper of comfort that seems to find me when I need it most. You are woven into the very fabric of who I am.
Thank you, my sister, for the love, the laughter, and the countless memories. Thank you for being my confidante, my cheerleader, my safe place. You were and always will be my little sister (yes I am still counting 3 days as older😊) my friend, my forever confidante.
Rest peacefully, my beautiful little sister. Until we meet again.
– Laura
Tribute by Philip Ashon
Friend of Charlene
Ewurabena.
It feels weird having to write this. I have not written anything for you or to you in such a while. All those reels and short messages, chatting about almost everything under the sun and your constant reminders about becoming my Chief of Staff if I became President of Ghana; this is unreal.
You have always been the constant. You remembered everything. Dates, moments, tears, laughs. You will over heaven and earth to make things happen. I always wondered how you did it all. Almost like you had multiple versions of yourself. You were so much to everyone else. I just don’t know if we were half of that for you.
Charlene, the girl with the English for days. The girl whose Crayola saved me constantly. Doing your graphic design homework was way more fun than it was supposed to be. I am not sure how Mr Odjija felt noticing the differences between your classwork and homework, but it felt like triumph getting them done. You were always the voice of wisdom. I still don’t know how you managed to convince me to stop Taekwando and yet you managed to stick it out as a cadet; but you did.
You had a good heart. You loved purely. You loved in a way that is not understood today. You cared beyond measure. You deserved love and I hope I was able to share some of mine with you. Knowing you for over 20 years, dating your in between, and growing up with you was a privilege.
Charlene Ewurabena Anokyewaa Hamilton. From today, these I guess these lyrics will mean a whole lot more:
“When I first saw you, I already knew. There was something inside of you. Something I thought I would never find. Angel of mine.” – Angel of mine (Monica)
“How I try to express what’s been troubling my mind. But still I cant find the word. But I
know that something’s got a hold of me. It came over me in a rush”. In a Rush (BlackStreet)
Sleep easy Charlene.
I will miss you.
– Philip
Tribute by HOPSA 2003 Executives
“I won’t be available tomorrow, but I shall catch up definitely.” This was Charlene’s final message to the HOPSA 2003 Events and Logistics Committee group page, on Saturday, 1st November 2025. A meeting had been scheduled for Sunday, 2nd November, and because Charlene never missed a meeting, we received her note with the full expectation that she would reconnect with us in the days ahead. Instead, on Monday 3rd November, we were confronted with the devastating news of her passing, a moment that left us shaken and inconsolable. We are still struggling to comprehend she has been taken from us so unexpectedly.
Charlene Hamilton served as the S2 Class Representative and concurrently as Vice Chairperson of the HOPSA 2003 Events and Logistics Committee. In her role as Class Representative, she was the trusted conduit between the executive team and her class. Whenever we requested updates, she would laughingly say that her “scientists were still in space and would soon return to earth,” that was her gentle way of asking for patience as her classmates caught up with our activities. Despite the light-hearted humour, she consistently rallied her peers, ensuring broad participation in the activities of HOPSA 2003. She remained a model of dependability, warmth, and remarkable diligence. Within the executive body, no decision was ever concluded without her counsel. She carried an encyclopaedicmemory of people and events that stretched back more than two decades to our shared years on the Angels’ Hill. She stood as one of the enduring pillars of HOPSA 2003, a gifted class leader, whose legacy will remain indelible.
As Vice Chairperson of the Events and Logistics Committee, Charlene was integral to every gathering we planned. Her expertise in the hospitality sector became an essential asset, and we relied on her judgement throughout our preparations. In the weeks before her passing, she was working closely with the team on our end of year gathering, an event that promised to bring renewed energy and unity to our year group.
Charlene, we had envisioned so much more together. The work we began remains unfinished, and we are confronted with the painful question of how to proceed without you. Many of us return again and again to our conversations with you, unwilling to let go of the voice, humour, and counsel that shaped our collective efforts. Your kindness and your commitment will be deeply missed.
It is difficult to imagine convening an executive meeting without your presence or completing our 2026 calendar of activities without your insight. You had already arranged accommodation in Cape Coast with Christie and Amanda, and we were collectively looking forward to attending the 80thAnniversary Speech Day of Holy Child School.
Your departure has left a void too heavy for words, yet we take comfort in the belief that you now rest in the eternal embrace of our Father in heaven. You remain part of us, now as our Executive Angel, watching over all that we continue to build. Charlene, may your soul find perfect peace in the bosom of our Lord. Amen! May the Holy Child Jesus keep you till we meet again!
