Final Rites Set for Matriarchs Madam Gladys Naa-Afi Dodoo in Accra and Mrs. Betty Koranteng Okan in Texas

The families and communities of Madam Gladys Naa-Afi Dodoo and Mrs. Betty Koranteng Okan have officially announced the funeral arrangements for the two matriarchs, whose passing has left a significant void in their respective circles in Ghana and the United States. Madam Dodoo, a venerable centenarian-to-be who passed away at the age of 98, will be honored in Accra this August, while Mrs. Okan’s life will be celebrated through a series of services in Arlington, Texas. These announcements serve as a formal call to friends, relatives, and well-wishers to join in paying their final respects to two women who lived impactful lives dedicated to their families and faith.

In Accra, the life of Madam Gladys Naa-Afi Dodoo will be commemorated on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Madam Dodoo passed away on July 4, 2026, leaving behind a legacy spanning nearly a century. Her funeral proceedings will be held at the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Accra, beginning with a pre-burial and burial service at 8:30 am, followed immediately by thanksgiving and final funeral rites at the same venue. The family has specified that there will be no wakekeeping, and the interment will be conducted as a private burial. She is survived by her children, Edwin Kwarteng Bekoe and Sophia Frema Annan, as well as seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Across the Atlantic, the Ghanaian community in the United States prepares for the "Call to Glory" services for Mrs. Betty Koranteng Okan. Her transition will be marked by a multi-day celebration of life in Arlington and Grand Prairie, Texas, starting on Friday, August 21, 2026, with a viewing at the Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home. A memorial service is scheduled for the following morning, Saturday, August 22, at the Wesley Methodist Church, followed by burial at Moore Funeral Home. The final funeral rites, where attendees are requested to wear black and white attire, will take place on Saturday evening at the Divine Grace Church in Arlington. The weekend of tributes will conclude on Sunday, August 23, with a thanksgiving service at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Resurrection Congregation DFW in Grand Prairie.

Mrs. Okan is survived by her widower, Daniel Okan, and a large family including her children Erica, Mitzi, Betsy-Ann, Lilian, Agnes, and Sammy, alongside in-laws Kweku Boateng and Frank Marfo. For both families, these ceremonies represent a transition from mourning to the celebration of long-lived legacies. As the dates approach, the respective communities are expected to gather in large numbers to offer support and reflect on the contributions of these two women to their families and the broader Ghanaian society, whether at home in Accra or within the vibrant diaspora in Texas.