CATECHIST JOSIAH TAYLOR AZUBUIKE OGBONNA

Cate. T. J. A. Ogbonna.

Birth

Catechist Josiah Taylor Azubuike Ogbonna (a.k.a. Dee Taylor) of St. Benedict’s Catholic Parish Ntigha, Aba Diocese Nigeria was born on July 25, 1935, in the present Umu Uwa-oma Ugaa, Oria na Ugaa Autonomous Community, Ntigha Ancient Kingdom in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State Nigeria.

Education

He attended the following schools: Group School Eziama Ntigha (1946-1949) and Community School Amapu Ntigha (1950-1953), both in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State Nigeria. County Teachers' Training College Ogoja, Cross River State Nigeria (1962-1965), and Teachers' Training College Ihie, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State Nigeria (1973-1974).

Marriage

He got married to Mrs. Cordelia Mmaweze Ogbonna (nee Chikwendu) in December 1969. The marriage is blessed with five surviving sons. His second son, Master Chibueze Eusebius Nwokeukwu died in 1989 at the age of 17.

Occupation

He was a teacher from 1956 to 1992. His first teaching appointment was with the school authorities of St. Paul’s Catholic Parish Wanokom, in the present Cross River State of Nigeria, from 1956 till the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War. After the war, he was re-absorbed by the then Ministry of Education, East-Central State of Nigeria in 1970. He taught in many primary schools in Ntigha and Nsulu in the present Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State Nigeria. He retired at the rank of Headmaster Special Class in 1992.

Ecclesiastical Service

Before his retirement from Civil Service in 1992, he joined the services of Catechists in the Catholic Diocese of Aba Nigeria in 1986. He served as a Catechist in the then Ngwa-ukwu Zone under St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish Nbawsi, Aba Diocese Nigeria (St. Bernadine’s Ihie, St. John’s Abayi, and St. Theresa’s Amoji) from 1986 to 1990. He returned to his home parish, St. Benedict’s Catholic Parish Ntigha, Aba Diocese Nigeria as the second Parish Catechist in 1990. He was later transferred to CKC Eziama Central, St. Peter’s Umuekpe, and St. Augustine’s Avo, all in St. Benedict’s Catholic Parish Ntigha. He was serving his second tenure in CKC Eziama Central till his death.

Death

Catechist Ogbonna died on January 1, 2014, the first day of his 79th year of age and 28th year as a Catholic Catechist.

Ichie T. J. A. Ogbonna (Dee Taylor)

Personal and Social Life

Catechist Josiah T. A. Ogbonna was popularly known as J. A. by his fellow teachers, as Taylor by his elders and age mates, and as Dee Taylor by the younger ones. He was a Choirmaster in the old Nbawsi Parish in the 1970s. He served mostly as a secretary and financial secretary in many secular and ecclesiastical organisations. Till death, he was the Welfare Secretary of the Aba Catholic Diocesan Catechists, Nbawsi Vicariate, and also the pioneer Ichie (King-maker) representing Umu Uwa-oma Ugaa, in Oria na Ugaa Autonomous Community, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State Nigeria. He would always be remembered as a teacher to the core in academics, faith and morals. He would be missed for his serious-mindedness in public and private affairs, and for his ancient proverbs and humorous jokes.

 Burial Ceremony of Cate. T. J. A. Ogbonna

Remembering Dee Taylor on All Souls' Day, 2014.