My Aunty touched my life at most occasions we met. She continuously admonished me on my life plans, dreams and push for self sustainance. I visited her at home in VI when I had a need to break barriers with the then Delta state Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan. She wrote to the Governor, made calls and gave me clues on how to burst new grounds.
Aunty Grace was exceptionally generous with advice.
Her unique smile is today a memory for me as I ponder over my times with her.
In Warri, I have come across many who still testify that she gave them admission at Uniben. This includes my wife Maureen.
She will be missed and remembered for her good deeds.
I pray her soul rest in God's bosom in Jesus name. Amen.
I am brother of the same mother with Maureen(Money), Golde, Sweete and Chief Dan Awani who happen to be sisters and brother to her.

Asifo Wyse, FCA, FCTI

" Prof Alele Williams is a woman and so are you" , these were the words my father spoke to me as soon as I got into QC!! He said those words every visiting day and everyday he was taking me to school. 
Orode I have never met your mom physically but I knew that I had to do well in life. 
Those words of my father registered for life!! I am a doctor today .
Her great success as a woman gave me no choice but to succeed. May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Orode, I grieve and morn with you and the family on the loss of one of the greatest professor Grace Alele-Williams Who recently passed on to glory and pray the Good Lord grant you all the strength to bear, she will never be forgotten.

Dear Orode, I never met your mother - Professor Dr Grace Alele-Williams but I know her and was in awe. Her legacy is unmatchable. Her impact and inspiration continues to inform women and girls, people like 8 year old daughter who after she learned about the fact that she was Professor of Mathematics over 2 years ago, declared your mom her hero and decided that she too can become a mathematician! I wish she had had the chance to meet your mom. Your mom was a trailblazer and icon who paved a way for so many and her legacy will continue to influence untold future generations of women. In your own way too, Orode, you are your mother’s daughter and I am so proud to see your legacy unfold. Love , Kemi Babagbemi

I thank God for the life of Prof. Grace Alele-Williams and indeed her legacy. A woman of purpose who lived life on purpose. Many women have done valiantly but she surpassed them all! May the Lord wrap His comforting arms around every single member of the family at this time and may her gentle soul rest peacefully in the bosom of our Lord.

A RARE GEM IS GONE
Prof Chief Grace Awani Alele Williams (Utukpa Iwere)! You are forever in our hearts . For the intervention of Mummy, I would not have been appointed to lecture in Uniben in 1989 after I was found appointable in 1986. But for her intervention again, I would have lost my chance to complete my PhD research work in University of Bristol, England in 1994. I remember how she introduced us female scientists to Third World Academy of Women in Science and she mobilised donors for a number of us young female scientists to go to Johannesburg in 1998 to attend the international Conference of TWOWS. To her credit TWOWS now OWSD, of which she was a one time Vice President (Africa), is waxing strong in Nigeria. She was the first Chairman of the Governing Council, College of Education, Warri and ensured it was affiliated with Uniben to give it a solid point to begin.
Mama was a pillar of strength and encouragement to me. She gave me very useful tips on how to function and succeed as a Chief Executive.
My Sisi Grace, Mummy, Aunty, I miss your calm voice, your push to excel, your counsel. I miss our late night chats in your room in VI. Rest in the Lord my beloved mummy. Adieu!

My aunty, my mentor, one of Awani's finest. I admired you so much and became a mathematician,recently I delved into Applied Mathematics so I could be like you. I promise to become the next female Professor of Applied Mathematics that the Awani family will produce.

Adieu great woman! May God rest your soul

Below is the message that I sent to two of the children of our late Sister:

Mr Williams

Greetings. My name is Charles Omagbanuwaje Awani, the Olori Ebi of the Awani Edo Family of Ajamimogha, Warri.

I learned of the passing on of your beloved mother a couple of days ago. Although she lived to a very ripe age, we all will miss her presence because she meant so much to us. She did our Family proud as a rare gem who blazed like a colossus. She was a luminary of luminaries, exuded strength even as she projected affability. We thank God for a life well spent.

The Family will appreciate it if you carry us along as you decide on obsequies.

I am also sending this message to the Family's Secretariat for them to liaise with you since I am presently not in Nigeria.

Once again, accept our sincere condolences on this irreparable loss.

Anty Gracie elegant, beautiful,determined, hardworking, principled, a good mentor, an amazon, trailblazer, influencer. Touched the lives of so many. We celebrate you anty. You will forever live in our memory. We are proud of you and we thank God for giving you to us. Such a wonderful blessing to generations! You are in the best place now with the Lord. Rest in peace.

Prof. Grace Alele-Williams,
You were a role model for not just the women, but for male admirers of excellence. Generations yet unborn will read about you and wish they saw your days.

You stood for excellence, and you achieved it. You didn't stop there, but encouraged others like my very self to do the same. This influence made me to pursue a Ph.D which I obtained after several years of lecturing, and eventually got to the position of professor of accounting.

It is hard to so easily forget your care and concern for your staff welfare of which I am a beneficiary.

May GOD grant your soul eternal rest, and may He also grant your family and well wishers the fortitude to bear your departure.
Adieu, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams!

Rest In Peace Professor Grace Alele Williams.

You showed us that it is indeed possible to excel! Thanks for paving the way for many young women. And young men too.

God grant your loved ones the strength to continue.

Adieu Prof Alele-Williams;
You left the nation with so much impact as a pioneer and trailblazer in many sectors. You were a woman of many firsts. I know you through the humility of your sons Latee and Kemal. Your legacy in raising a whole generation of Nigerians will never be forgotten. May God grant your eternal soul rest and bring healing to your family.

Wow! Such a terrific woman. I still remember the advice she gave me back at school. She was a mother indeed to us all.
May Almighty God grant her children, Latee, Orode, Yetunde and Ayo, with their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
Our loss is heaven's gain.
May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen

In life, sometimes there are phenomenal people who you feel you know even though you never meet. People who you admire from afar, trying to glean whatever insights you can from the stories you hear about them to apply to your life so that you can become a greater you.

While I did not have the privilege of meeting Orode’s mother, I felt I knew her. Her brilliance, fearlessness, exuberance and her indomitable spirit were just a few of the traits that were the recurrent themes of Orode’s innumerable stories of her mom over the years. Beautiful in and out, her impact will be celebrated for generations to come. Her infinite love for her children and her society was evident in her words and in her actions.

May her soul rest in perfect peace and may she continue to inspire all of us to be better versions of ourselves. Imo and I are praying for strength for the entire family and thanking God for her wonderful life.

Professor Grace Alele Williams was an achiever and a great woman of substance.
An Iron Lady of our contemporary Ivory tower, Africa and internationally . A pathfinder of repute. She will greatly be missed. An erudite Professor of Mathematics and first female Vice Chancellor in Nigeria, your memory will lingers forever my VC.
Thank you for all you did for my Alma Matter....Great Uniben. You will surely be missed a great deal and we gonna keep loving you forever. You will live in the minds of those that Loves you forever!
Adieu Great One. Goodnight my VC.
May your gentle soul rest easy in perfect peace, Amen.

Maxwell O Oshodin
USA 

Oh well, I guess this is life.....an endless flow. My admirable Aunty and Chairperson at my wedding.....you inspired me and so many..... thank you for your legacy, it's indelible. Sing, dance, worship and Rejoice in peace aunty.

Dr. Patricia Monu Egbe.

She was well admired and loved by many - who knew her from near or far - as already reflected in the many condolence messages from within the country and beyond, following news of her transition to glory. Evidently she blazed the trail, mentored generations and lived a good life to a ripe old age. So while mourning, I hope the immediate family and others will be comforted by that. Really, I feel that ultimately we should all be grateful for the legacies and celebrate her life.

Professor Grace Alele- Williams was an icon and an inspiration. I thank God for the legacy she left behind and pray that may God comfort you; Dr. Doherty, Yetunde and your families.

Prof Grace Alele Williams was an amazing woman. I still remember living next door to your family and sharing a common hedge and hanging out, playing monopoly:-) You all have her strength in you and she leaves a great legacy. She is now resting with God and will be remembered fondly. RIP.

Adetayo Mabadeje Iyiola

Prof's positively influenced our lifes at the age it matters most. She was a great disciplinarian and character moulder. Some of us are proud and responsible adults today because of her influence on us as students. Rest in peace mama we will forever miss you.

My father was a proffessor in Uniben. He left us for another woman and expected that the university would throw us out of the university accommodation. Prof Grace Alele Williams said no, that my Mum and us could live there as long as we wanted. He had to find alternative accommodation. Even when he left the university and became an ambassador and people complained she still let us stay. After all my siblings graduated we left voluntarily. Over the years we have prayed for her and remember her with gratitude in our hearts always.
May the path of this wonderful and compassionate woman be joyful and blessed.
Amen

RIP

Mama your legacy will live on forever no one can be like you goodbye RIP

She was an inspiration to so many of us! A phenomenal lady indeed! My respects!

I had the luxury of being one of her students in University of Benin. She was an ICON and a spectacular being. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace

Mommy Alele-Williams, you were not just a mom to Orode, you were a mom to us her friends. Your children, Orode, Lattee, Yetunde and Ayo, became my siblings.

You spoke deep and meaning words into our lives every time we got to sit with you and have conversations.

You were a great mentor to so many. You were special and unique in your own ways as God created you.

May your gentle and loving soul rest in peace and may God comfort your children and family.

Rest well, Auntie. You have done well. And I know you have been welcomed Home with those Words that we all aspire to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” For that, for your loving motherhood, for decades of dependable friendship, for your trail-blazing and inspirational life, for your love, wisdom, and gentle character, we give Almighty God all the glory …..and will forever be grateful. ❤️✝️From all of us at Peace Cottage.