Florence Solomon

Mrs. Florence Langley Solomon was born on October 26, 1926 in Kano in Northern Nigeria. She is the third child of Mr. Alfred Langley and Princess Victoria Osademe. Mr. Langley was British and one of the founding members of the Royal Niger Company. Princess Victoria Osademe was a princess of the Aboh Kingdom in Delta State, Nigeria and was an established trader in her time.

Mama was blessed with two sisters, Lillian and Louisa Langley, and a brother, Philip Langley. They lived in the European quarters in Kano, Nigeria. Her father was credited with the invention of the groundnut pyramids of Kano as an effective way of preserving groundnuts before being transported by rail to Lagos Terminus at Iddo.

At age six Mama’s dad, Alfred, took her to St. Mary’s Catholic Convent in Lagos where she schooled and lived. Her older sister, Lilian, who was already there took her like her daughter and took care of her in the boarding house. She remembers Lilian always getting her dressed up and ready whenever her father was coming to visit. The years she spent there made her very close to God and made her a disciplined Catholic. When she was twelve her older sister left her in the convent to get married to Charles Samuel Nelson. She stayed on until she was nineteen years old.

After graduating from secondary school, Mama stayed on and became a teacher at St. Mary’s Convent. She later left Lagos on holiday to go see her brother, Philip, in Kano. That’s where she met her husband, Louis Solomon. He was the best friend of her brother, Philip Langley. After a six month courtship they both got married in March, 1947 at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Kano. Soon after that she and her husband moved to Lagos where they had their son, Patrick, in 1951 and their daughter, Rita, in 1953. It was there she started her sewing business which flourished for over 30 years. She was very close to her brother, Philip, who was her motivator and confidant. From her long and successful sewing career she contributed significantly in sending her children, Patrick and Rita, to America and Britain respectively to further their studies.

Mama is a cancer survivor having beaten the disease in 1990. Sadly her husband, Louis, died in 1991. Mainly to better manage her healthcare after her bout with cancer she relocated to the land of her father, England, in 1995 with her daughter Rita. She celebrated her 90th birthday in Dallas, TX and soon thereafter moved permanently to the U.S. in August, 2021 to live with her son, Patrick, and daughter-in-law, Ann.

Mama was extremely generous and caring. She freely and happily gave of what she had to others, especially those most in need. She had an excellent sense of humor and was a joy to converse with and to be around. She loved looking at old movies and would admire the fancy and stylish clothes the women wore. Her favorite movie was “The Sound of Music”.

Mama was indeed a devout Catholic. When she was able to in her younger years Mama would go to mass every day either walking, taking a bus or being driven to church. In her later years she rarely failed to watch EWTN’s masses two to three times a day. She was extremely grateful to God all times for everything she had. When asked how she was Mama would always say “I am in the Hands of God”. A few days before she passed she sang the song “Ope Mi Koi To” which means “My thanks to You, Lord, is not enough” to her nurse.

Mama Florence Solomon is survived by her son, Patrick Solomon, daughter, Rita Solomon, daughter-in-law, Ann Solomon, nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, and countless family friends to whom she is “Mama”. She was truly a “Virtuous Woman” throughout her adult life. We thank the Lord Almighty for her long and fruitful life. May her beautiful soul rest in perfect peace.