Their final journey
EMOTIONAL TRIBUTES AT FUNERAL OF BLAZE TRAGEDY FAMILY
EMOTIONAL tributes poured in at the funeral of a mum with a “heart of gold” and her two children who died in a flat fire.
Around 200 people gathered at a Nottingham mosque yesterday to pay their respects to Fatoumatta Hydara and her two children, Fatimah Drammeh, three, and Naeemah Drammeh,one.
Former voluntary worker Fatoumatta, 28, was pronounced dead two days after her daughters, who died as a result of the fire in Fairisle Close in the early hours of November 20.
Family, friends, members of the community and people touched by their deaths congregated at the Baitul Hafeez Mosque, on Sneinton Dale. Dozens of others were seen arriving at the mosque when the solemn ceremony began.
Members of the Muslim community shared memories of the children, who used to “play and run down the hall in the mosque”. Many passed their condolences to Fatoumatta’s mum Aminata Dibba, including Reverend Lydia Cartwright, vicar at Holy Trinity with St Francis, and the Labour MP for Nottingham South, Lilian Greenwood.
Ms Dibba, 44, described her daughter as her “best friend”.
She said: “I cannot sleep at night. When I saw the three coffins my heart was beating so fast. It does not feel real.”
She said her daughter was a woman with a “heart of gold”, adding: “She would always help anyone. She always volunteered, donated money to charities.
“I am just heartbroken. She was the most generous, the kindest person. This is something that affected so many people, because it is a tragedy. The police told me that they have never heard of anything like this in Nottingham before.”
The funeral procession arrived at High Wood Cemetery in Bulwell, where the burial took place, at around 2pm. Only men went to the cemetery, while women remained at the mosque.
Speaking from her home in The Meadows after the ceremony, Ms Dibba said: “She was a role model for everyone in the community.
“She was a great mother to their children – they were such a beautiful family, living in peace.”
Women from the community gathered at her home.
“There are so many people coming to my house every day, paying their tributes and respects to Fatoumatta.
“People were sitting on the floor at the hospital, they sit on the floor here. Even white British people, or people who are complete strangers, come to my house heartbroken.”
Tai Olatunde, a nurse living in Clifton, is one of Amita’s closest friends.
The 44-year-old said: “Seeing the coffins was devastating, but I also saw Fatoumatta when she was on life support and that broke me.
“Today has been very difficult, but we have a sense of relief that she was laid to rest. All the rooms were full of people and that tells you the kind of person Fatoumatta was.
“She was everywhere – she was generous, chatty, and just wonderful. She was a role model for my children, even though my family and I are Christian.
“My 13-year-old daughter still remembers what she has learned from her. Everyone looked up to her.
“Someone came from Northampton to attend the funeral. Some people came from London. She was such a loving person.
“I do not think Nottingham will ever forget this. The family are absolutely heartbroken. Her mum used to talk to her three hours on the phone.”
Ayesha Osman, 44, who sentimentally described Fatoumatta as “our sister”, added: “The day before it happened, we were doing a workshop online. It was for women in the African community, about our careers and goals.
“So I just could not believe that the next day she was gone. It was a shock, just unreal.”
Zeinba Noor, a neighbour in The Meadows, said: “If you ask anybody, they will tell you only outstanding things about her. She would talk to anyone. She was a true lady. A generous, kind woman and devoted mother.”
Sarah Kirkputrick. 40, who lives next door to Ms Dibba’s home, remembered how Fatoumatta once saved her from a house fire.
“It happened two years ago. It was around midnight and Fatoumatta was the person who called the fire service.
“It was a massive fire, and I was asleep with my five children in the house. She saved our lives. But noone was there to save hers.”
A heartfelt tribute on behalf of the family was read out at the Sneinton mosque. Mourners heard how Fatoumatta was a “faithful, righteous woman”.
It read: “She wanted to make her children good citizens of the world. Her mum described her as her best friend.
“She was always willing to help people whenever she could. She was a righteous woman and did her best to adhere to Islamic teachings and principles.”
It continued: “She got along with her siblings very much and listened to her parents.
“She was always willing to learn more and get better. She got along very well with the Muslim community, and the wider family.
“Even the challenging struggles she went through her life didn’t change a character, her love for Allah and love for humanity.”
■ Jamie Barrow, 31, of Fairisle Close, Clifton, is accused of murdering Fatoumatta, Fatimah and Naeemah. He is due to stand trial in May next year.