Larger than life? Extraordinary? Irreplaceable? Mother of the nation.? All these words were used to to describe the character of the late Agnes Ntshavheni Mulilo Dzebu (79), a staunch member of the church and co-founder of the fast-growing Thusaululo Ministries.

Mrs Dzebu was buried during a moving, but celebratory, ceremony at her home village of Makonde, outside Thohoyandou, on Saturday. She is the mother of the spokesperson of the Musina Municipality and a former senior journalist of Limpopo Mirror.

Agnes was nicknamed Vho-Mulilo (Fire) in church circles, because of her powerful prayers and her love of serving the Lord without reserve.

Scores of mourners, including the mayor of Musina Municipality, Cllr Carol Phiri, and the Chief Whip, Cllr  Simon Madamalala, filled the Thasululo Ministries church building to capacity, before proceeding to Makonde cemetery where Agnes was laid to rest. Although the atmosphere was subdued, the ceremony resembled a celebration of a life well lived because Vho-Mulilo fully dedicated her life to the Lord. She died peacefully last Sunday after a short illness.

Before the burial on Saturday, thousands of people gathered for the memorial service in her honour, which was held at the same church building on Friday afternoon. Dozens of people who were healed proudly witnessed how Vho-Mulilo had prayed for them when they were sick and thanked the Lord for working wonders through her. Others who have been saved also thanked her for preaching the gospel to them until they repented to serve the Lord. 

Evangelist Thizwilondi Magalela of Thasululo Ministries also thanked God for giving them a wonderful gift in Vho-Mulilo. She said the church would always remember Vho-Mulilo because of her huge contribution towards the establishment of the six branches of the church. “God took her very soon. We needed her seriously, but we accepted her death humbly. May the good Lord be praised.”

In a written speech, Vho-Mulilo’s only daughter, Humbelani Mangale, described her mother as an angel who brought up her children with love and affection. “It is sad that my mother died on Mother’s Day while others were celebrating with their mothers. We strongly wipe our tears by the fact that she served the Lord every minute of her life. God has done His will and ours is to accept.”