CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF
Emmanuel Alexander Rene Komla Botsoe
1931 - 2021
Homegoing Service on 3rd September 2021
at 10:30 AM - 12 Noon
King's Church of Manchester, UK
ORDER OF SERVICE FOR
Emmanuel Alexander Rene Komla Botsoe
PROCESSIONAL SONG “Akpe Ma Dana Mawu” PAGE 3
SCRIPTURE READING
OPENING PRAYER Psalm 23 (Rene Botsoe)
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN Pastor Richard Anniss
EULOGY “Our God Stands Like A Fortress
Rock” PAGE 3
PRAISE MEDLEY
POEM Molly Jensen & Eugene
Botsoe
SCRIPTURE READING
SALVATION MESSAGE & PRAYER Led By Pastor Yaw & Dorothy
Adu-Dwumaa PAGE 4
CLOSING REMARKS
CLOSING SONG Lydia A. Gagoh
Jeremiah 33:3 KJV (Peter
Botsoe)
Pastor Abraham Aworinde PAGE 5
Pastor Abraham Aworinde
Grandchildren (Angelica,
Lola, Lexi, Olivia, Hannah)
Friends and Sympathizers may also
participate virtually via
https://charaproduction.com/emma
nuel-alex-rene-komla-botsoe-
memorial-page/
PROCESSIONAL SONG
“Akpe Ma Dana Mawu”
Composer: Unknown
SING IN ORIGINAL LANGUAGE ENGLISH TRANSLATION
(EWE)
Give thanks to the Lord our God
Akpe mada na Mawu Give thanks to the Lord our God
Akpe mada na Mawu
Akpe mada na Mawu Give thanks to the Lord our God
Mada na Mawu To the Lord our God
Mada na Mawu To The Lord Our God
Akpe mada na Mawu Give thanks to the Lord our God
Mada na Mawu To The Lord Our God
Mada na Mawu To The Lord Our God
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
Our God Stands Like a Fortress Rock
Composer: Martin Luther (1483-1546)
1. Our God stands like a fortress 2. We win no battles through our
rock might,
with walls that will not fail us; we fall at once, dejected;
he helps us brace against the shock the righteous one will lead the fight,
of fears which now assail us. by God himself directed.
The enemy of old You ask, ‘Who can this be?’
in wickedness is bold; Christ Jesus, it is he,
this seems his victory hour, eternal King and Lord,
he fears no earthly power God’s true and living Word,
and arms himself with cunning. no one can stand against him.
Page 3 of 8
PRAISE MEDLEY
Hallelujah Praise the Lord
Composer: Unknown
Halle.. Halle…Halle…Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Halle.. Halle…Halle…Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Praise the Lord
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Praise the Lord
Give Thanks Look and Live
Composer: Henry Smith (1978) Composer: William A. Ogden (1887)
Recorded by Don Moen in 1986
Verse 1
Give thanks with a grateful heart I’ve a message from the Lord, hallelujah!
Give thanks to the Holy One This message unto you I’ll give,
Give thanks because He's given ’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
Jesus Christ, His Son It is only that you “look and live.”
Give thanks with a grateful heart Chorus 1
Give thanks to the Holy One “Look and live,” my brother, live,
Give thanks because He's given Look to Jesus now, and live;
Jesus Christ, His Son ’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”
And now let the weak say, I am strong
Let the poor say, I am rich Chorus 2
Because of what the Lord has done for us “Look and live,” my sister, live,
Look to Jesus now, and live;
And now let the weak say, I am strong ’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
Let the poor say, I am rich It is only that you “look and live.”
Because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks…Give thanks
Page 4 of 8
PRAYER AFTER SALVATION MESSAGE
Psalm 46
King James Version
46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the
heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Page 5 of 8
BIOGRAPHY
Emmanuel Rene Alexander Komla Botsoe passed
away on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at the age
of ninety (90). He was born on 3rd February
1931 to Reverend Eugene Yao Botsoe and Lydia
Afua Botsoe in Lomé, Republic of Togoland. He
graduated from the University of Ghana (Legon)
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ancient
History, Geography, and Religious Studies. His
passion for education led him to training as a
teacher at Kumasi College of Technology and
Winneba from 1957-1958. He taught in various
schools in Ghana including Wesley Grammar
and Kpando Secondary Schools. In 1971, Rene
accepted a teaching contract with the Ministry
of Education in Zambia and he spent twenty-
years teaching at Kalulushi, Helen Kaunda, and
Ndeke Secondary Schools.
As much as Rene enjoyed teaching in Zambia, one of his greatest
achievements was the formation of the Salvation Choir at St. Margaret’s
Church in Kitwe, Zambia. Their goal was to "bring the power and love of
God through singing”, and they travelled throughout the country singing at
various churches and even being featured on national television. The choir
was his pride and joy and “Hark My Soul It Is The Lord” was the first hymn
he taught them.
In 1992, Rene left Zambia to join his family that had just relocated to
Manchester, UK. At the suggestion of a dear friend, Dennis Chisunka, he
decided to pivot from teaching to home care and he worked through the
British Nursing Association (BNA). For Rene, this was a welcomed change as
he saw his teaching skills being channeled to helping the elderly at the
most vulnerable time of their lives.
Page 6 of 8
Music and The Gospel of Jesus Christ have
been the heartbeat and cadence of Rene’s
life. A walking historian and storyteller, he
often used lessons from the past to inform
his future actions and readily shared these
lessons with whomever he had as a
listening audience. Rene loved God and
lived every moment thankful for his
goodness and blessings. The songs, “Give
Thanks With A Grateful Heart” and “Akpe
Ma Dana Mawu (Give Thanks To God)” were among many that he regularly sung
with friends and family. As one neighbor said, “I always knew Rene was coming
because I could hear his singing.”
Every season of Rene’s life was marked by consistency, commitment, and
resolve.Consistency in prayer, studying the Word, Bible study with his
wife Angelica, and celebrating his children and grandchildren;
Commitment in his marriage and especially his vows to his wife Angelica
through health and even more so in sickness; His resolve to choose an
attitude of thankfulness, and commit every day into the hands of God.
Rene was the bedrock of the family and a guiding compass. Leading by
example, he showed everyone that “love is a doing word and the Word
of God is our sure foundation.” He and his wife Angelica celebrated their
55th wedding Anniversary on December 31, 2020. Rene’s son Martin is
deceased. Rene is survived by his wife Angelica and children Rose,
Eugene, Dorothy, Rene, Lydia, and Peter. He also leaves behind sisters,
Sophia, and Eugenia as well as nineteen (19) grandchildren and one (1)
great grandchild. Finally, he leaves behind a large extended family of
nephews, nieces, cousins, former students, and friends.
Page 7 of 8