Mrs. Selimy Ewurabena Quaynor was born on Christmas Day in the year, 1934 to Mr. Latif Majdoub, a Lebanese textile merchant and Madam Mary Adorna Elliott of Affamunamu, Cape Coast, both of blessed memory.
She commenced her schooling at St, Monica’s K.G. Boarding School which was at the time run by the Sisters of the Order of the Holy Paraclete in Mampong Ashanti and later furthered her education at St. Monica’s School, Cape Coast, where she obtained her Standard Seven (7) School Certificate in 1950.
‘Mummy’ as she was affectionately called by many continued her education at St. Monica’s Training College in Mampong Ashanti and completed her course in I954.
Mummy was gentle, soft; steady kind-hearted, affectionate, care-giving and focused, powering towards the goal and in the process warding off distractions, consistently. Without doubt Mummy had a prayerful demeanor. Until her demise, Mummy was a member of the Maranatha Assemblies of God Church in Cape Coast where she also served as a deaconess. She was also a member of the Women’s AGLOW Fellowship International (Cape Coast Branch), where she also held various positions effectively.
Her relentless efforts to see the furtherance of God’s Kingdom Business and the propagation of the Gospel, saw her serve as a member and later an executive member of The African Forum on Religion and Government-AFREG.
She started her teaching career in 1955 at St. Anne’s Anglican Girls School in Sekondi however in 1958 she was transferred to Bishop’s School in Accra. Though Mummy left the teaching profession to pursue a Secretarial course at the St. Godric’s Secretarial College in London it would later be revealed that she had by no means abandoned her love for teaching and nurturing young children.
She returned to Ghana after completing her studies and was employed by Shell Oil Company in November 1960. Ewurabena as she was tenderly called by family, however resigned from Shell in January of 1968 and joined her then fiancé (Dr. Edwin Quaynor of blessed memory) in Germany where they tied the knot. The marriage was blessed with two children, Dr. Mrs. Gloria Folson of Nugouchi Memorial Institute, Legon and Mr. Ebenezer Kwesi Quaynor of CEDECOM, Cape Coast.
THE BIRTH OF FLOWERS GAY SCHOOLS
The Founder and Proprietress of the Schools whilst still a child at St. Monica’s Primary School in Mampong Ashanti in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, recalls how she played a part in a ‘play’ adapted from a Christmas Carol which says
‘Lord Jesus hath a garden full of FLOWERS GAY, where you and I can gather posies all the day: There angels sing in jubilant ring, with dulcimers and lutes, And harps and cymbals, trumpets, pipes, And gentle, soothing flutes. Several years after this experience, while pondering over her strong desire to start a ‘Play and Nursery School’, the Lord gave her a vision. She narrates in her own words: ‘One night as I lay in bed, a vivid scene of the play came to mind. I could see the little children, (myself included) acting like angels in the garden of Jesus. When the vision was over, I was convinced that I was to call the school Flowers Gay – as was captured in the carol.’ The founder’s love for children drove her to initiate a hunt for toys in London (England) in preparation for the commencement of the School whilst sojourning abroad with her family. After relocating to Ghana, she established the Play and Nursery Schools from a very humble beginning on the 7th of January, 1980 with a population of three (3). This number increased by the end of the term, by the Grace of God to thirteen (13) and ever since, the numbers have continued to grow.
IN 1987 THE PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMENCED.
After thirteen (13) years of providing quality service, the School moved from Third Ridge where it commenced in a garage of a Bungalow (where the founder resided with her family) to its present permanent location at West Adisadel near the Industrial Area.
The Junior High Secondary School also commenced in 1994 with eleven (11) pupils even though only eight (8) were presented for the School’s first ever BECE Examination, since three (3) had to relocate with their parents out of Cape Coast. All pupils presented for the Schools’ first ever BECE examination passed with distinction by the Grace of God. This was to set a standard for academic excellence which the Schools still enjoys by God’s Grace. Flowers Gay Schools continues to produce ‘Gay Flowers’ just as were in the Lord’s Garden as seen in the Founder’s vision – bright, attractive, cheerful and brilliant. Just as the Schools’ motto says, and as staff and pupils alike believe, ‘BY THEIR FRUIT YE SHALL KNOW THEM.
By God’s Grace Mummy’s hard work and perseverance has paid off and today. Flowers Gay Schools has become one of the finest private schools in the nation, having produced responsible and respectable personalities (across all sectors of the economy) – a number of whom are stalwarts in their current professions. During her day, her exertions were relentless: giving and receiving directions and delegating effectively and efficiently to the admiration of parents, guardians, teachers, supporting staff, Board of Governors and many others.
At the head of the Schools’ management system, Mummy stayed responsive to pupils in ways that were professional, firm and fair, offering a leadership that remained, throughout, on a near-twenty-four-seven vigil. The stories of how she kept every employee of hers on their toes and yet got each one of them clinging to the appellation MUMMY are endless.
It is therefore not surprising that some staff members of Flowers Gay Schools have stuck with the Schools (family) since the days the Play and Nursery School was established at Third Ridge, well over 30 years ago. Though her death is a big blow to the entire family, we thank our Maker for giving her to us for eighty (80) active years. The Founder and Proprietress’ efforts have been rewarded in this magnificence of an asset that Flowers Gay Schools has become: cherished, and sought after by the many of the Cape Coast community and beyond.