A local herbalist and the owner of Back to Eden Herbal Services, Mrs Gladys Makhela (47), passed away last Monday.

Makhela, who graduated from the University of Zimbabwe in phototherapy herbalism, died after a short illness in a private hospital in Pretoria.

According to her younger sister, the Phalaphala FM presenter Martha "MM" Makhela, her late sister made a significant impact in the lives on many people. She was also someone who loved and enjoyed life. "My elder sister had a big heart. As a family, we are still feeling her loss. Really, an assert has been taken from our family; we will remember her fondly. No one at the family has accepted that she is no more. Her death left a very deep pain in our hearts," she said.

Last year, Gladys Makhela offered free herbal treatment to Fhatuwani Joyce Sigadawani of Ha-Ravele, who was suffering from a tumor that had developed under her right eye.

According to "MM", a day before Gladys passed away, she requested her family members to visit her at her hospital bed. "When we arrived, she told us that she wanted to hear my voice. She asked me to sing praise and worship songs for her. Before we left, we prayed for her and little did we know that we were seeing her alive for the last time," she said.

Mrs Makhela was born on May 30, 1960, and is survived by her four children, sisters and brothers. Her four children are Nkhumeleni, Limani, Herbert and Jayson. She was buried last Sunday at the Lenyenye graveyard in Tzaneen.