[AllAfrica] Thousands of mourners including both Christians and Muslims Friday converged on the Independence Stadium in Bakau to pay their last respects to Archbishop Rt Revd Dr Solomon Tilawa Ethelbert Willie Johnson, who passed away on 21st January, 2014.

The late Johnson, Anglican Bishop of Banjul, and the Ninth Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of the Province of West Africa, who was to turn 60 this month, fell on a lawn tennis court on January 21st before being pronounced dead at the Medical Research Council (MRC).

News of Archbishop Tilewa's passing was received with great shock by many Gambians, as he was seen as a great role model due to his self-comportment and dedication to the service of God.

The funeral mass for the late archbishop was attended by top Christian scholars from within the sub-region. A high-level government delegation at the funeral was led by the minister of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure, Balla Garba Jahumpa.

The late archbishop was first laid at the Church of Christ in Serrekunda at 11am where hundreds of mourners had the opportunity to pay their final respects to him before proceeding to the Independence Stadium for the final service.

Sharing the life and times of the late archbishop with the Daily Observer in an interview, former Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chief, Gabriel John Roberts, who was his close associate, described his demise as a great loss to the nation. He recalled days gone by when they used the work at the IEC, saying the late Johnson was a truthful and humble person.

Being his former vice chairman at the country's Electoral Commission, Roberts said the deceased was one of the strongest supporters of the Provisional Independent Electoral Commission (PIEC).

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