Greetings from The Gambia! 
 
Our tradition has it that leap years are special, and come with surprises; but this year ushered in an opportunity to reflect profoundly, repent sincerely, forgive those that have trespassed against us, reaffirm our faith and reprioritize the way we live going forward. We have been left with no doubt that only prayers and the grace and mercy of the Almighty God can save us.  
 
It is therefore with a great sense of loss that the Lloyd-Evans-Valentine and Fowlis families have taken the passing of agreat human being; our beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, son and friend, John Prom, at his destined appointment with his Creator. We must all accept the timing and pray that we will be able to emulate the exemplary life that John lived to the fullest.
 
John touched the lives of so many family members, friends, and even strangers, wherever he lived. From The Gambia (his country of birth) to his second home in the United States, he managed the responsibilities of his dual citizenship very well. As a true Gambian-American he loved both countries unconditionally. He leaves a legacy of service and stewardship to under-resourced children and families in the Gambia. He also demonstrated his exceptional organizational skills, at the church, where he was instrumental in making the GCPA galas and fundraisers a success. These events successfully raised funds for various projects in The Gambia. At work, he was a dedicated professional. At home he kept things in perfect order and threw many memorable parties, and impromptu social gatherings. 
 
John was a kind-hearted, jovial, genuine spirit. With a wink and a smile, he brought warmth and laughter to every interaction and occasion. He was committed to serving his community in Gambia and the diaspora. John was a mentor and father figure to his children, and many nephews and nieces. Through his words of encouragement, he instilled his steadfastness. He was a pillar of family values - always welcoming and opening his home to family and friends. He cherished family relations and made lifelong friendships.  He was always making new friends and building bridges across geographical, religious, racial, gender, socio-economic and other man-made barriers that have divided families and communities. He comforted and counselled numerous friends and family members in trying times.
 
We all have vivid memories of how he courted Pamela and the entire family, culminating in a very beautiful wedding in the USA in the summer of 1991.  Since then, he has proven himself to be a worthy, caring and respectful husband. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and countless testimonies about John and Pam, as an exemplary couple and have no doubt that his legacy will live on through his family. We thank the Almighty for his beautiful daughter Nini and fine son Tony, who has preceded him in death. We are appreciative that God blessed John and Pam with a handsome and fine gentleman, Harry, and charming “princess”, Sukai Nellie. All children in our family who have had the privilege of living and visiting with John have been imbued with strong Catholic family values; a passion for education, sports and service; coupled with a sense of purpose, humility and discipline, which we have all admired over the years. He encouraged them all to pursue their dreams and build solid moral foundations.
 
The last time John and family were in The Gambia was in December 2018. We had a wonderful reunion and enjoyedreminiscing over the “the good old days” and “handing over our batons to the younger generation”.  The Lord God Almighty giveth life, and He has taken John’s, despite his courageous fight and his unwavering faith. We are comforted that his soul has been taken to rest in another realm, and that his beautiful smile and exemplary life will inspiregenerations to come. John will leave a very big void in his church, family and circle of friends. We will all sorely miss him, especially Pam, his partner for almost three decades. 
 
We will always hold dear our memories of him, remember his faithfulness to The Gambia, and will cherish the opportunity to have been a part of his wonderful life. We pray that the Almighty God will accept John’s gentle soul and grant him eternal bliss in Heaven. We also pray that The Almighty God will continue to guide, protect and bless John’s loved ones, particularly during this time of great loss.
 
We thank all sympathizers for their support.