Watercolour portrait of Mary Naa Ayele Arday-Kotei, smiling, in a white lace dress with a pearl and gold necklace

Mary Naa Ayele
Arday-Kotei

1949 – 2026

Mrs Mary Naa Ayele Arday-Kotei (1949–2026), affectionately known as Auntie May, was a devoted mother and grandmother, accomplished public health professional and woman of steadfast Christian faith. Known for her humility, generosity and strength, she brought warmth and purpose to her family, church and community. She passed away on Tuesday, 8th September 2026, in Accra. Her legacy of faith, love and service lives on in the people she nurtured and the many lives she touched.

Mary in a cream dress and netted hat, seated beside an officer in dress uniform at a ceremony Mary in a zebra-print blouse and pearls, gesturing happily beside rose-gold number balloons Mary as a young graduate in a black gown and mortarboard Mary as a young woman in a maroon dotted dress with a gold shell pendant Mary in a blue and orange print dress, perched on the arm of a chair beside a smiling man in green Mary in a blue and white patterned outfit, wearing a Party Princess birthday badge Mary in pink lace and a man in a navy tunic holding a framed photograph of the James Ernest Akrong Kotei Hangar Black and white studio portrait of Mary as a young woman

Funeral arrangements

Saying farewell

There will be no wake

27

FridayNovember 2026

8:00 a.m.

Pre-burial

Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Asafoiatse Nettey Street, Accra

9:00 a.m.

Burial service

Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Asafoiatse Nettey Street, Accra

After

Interment

Private burial

Same day

Final funeral rites

Wesley Methodist Cathedral Church Hall

  Attire Red & blackVenue directions

29

SundayNovember 2026

8:00 a.m.

Thanksgiving service

Grace Methodist Society, Lartebiokorshie

  Attire All white

All are cordially invited.

Mary in a white blouse hugging a granddaughter in front of gold number balloons Mary on the sofa with her family gathered on the rug at Christmas Mary at the head of a round table with family at her 75th birthday Mary holding a bouquet, seated in front of two family members Mary in a yellow headwrap arranging a seated woman's hair with a friend Mary cheek to cheek with a smiling granddaughter Mary in white lace standing with three family members, all in white, before a leafy backdrop spelling Mary in gold Mary in a blue dress seated on a sofa with four family members around her Mary seated in a bright patterned dress, surrounded by a large family group

Family

Those who carry her legacy on.

Her brothers and sisters, her children and her grandchildren, and the wider Arday, Kotei and allied families.

Brothers & sisters
  • Mrs Grace De-Groot Bird
  • Andrews Nii Ofori Arday
  • Mrs Comfort Arday-Antwi
  • David Nii Adu Arday
  • Dorothy Ayikai Arday
  • Gifty Ayeley Arday
  • Mrs. Angela Ayitsoo Peasah
  • Ernest Ataa Quaye Arday
Mary Naa Ayele Arday-Kotei
Auntie May
Children
  • Emmanuel Nikoi KoteiChase Petroleum, Accra
  • Robert Stephen Nii Amon KoteiSuitesupply, USA
  • Rosemary Naa Adei Kotei-BuckmanAshesi University, Accra
Grandchildren
  • Mary-Pauline Naa Dei Dromo Kotei
  • James Ernest Nii Kotey Kotei
  • Robert James Nii Kotey Kotei
  • Elsie Afia Antwiwaa Buckman
  • Tobias Kofi Buckman

Cousins

Owura Kwao Hemans & Sibling, Obuama Addy, Mrs Rose Omaboe & Siblings, Edmund Ofori Arday (Ozorro) & Siblings, Gifty Naa Ayeley Arday (Ayeley Khaki), Eric Ofori Arday & Siblings, DSP. Emmanuel Oblie Arday (Rtd) & Sibling, Elizabeth Aawuo Nichols and Siblings, Margaret Naa Ayorkor Arday (Naa Tete Kofi I) & Siblings, Mrs Betty Naa Ayeley Amporful (Ayeley Fante), Gloria Naa Ayikai Arday & Siblings, James Nii Ofori Arday & Siblings, Comfort Naa Ayeley Arday & Siblings, Mary Ayorkor Arday & Siblings, Frederick Nii Ofori Arday, and Sahadatu Nelson and siblings (Kaneshie).

Step-children

Sarah Naa Amoah Adei Kotei (Naa Amoah Ventures, Accra), Samuel Isaac Nikoi Kotei (Germany), Bertha Rita Kutorkor Kotei (USA), and Jane Eva Koteikai Kotei Wilson (UK).

Sister-in-law

Mrs. Gladys Kokale Moses-Dovlo (Nee Kotei)

Son- and daughters-in-law

Mrs. Sarah Ayikai Kotei, Desiree Browden, and Mr. Ebenezer Buckman.

Nephews & nieces

Miss Julia Agyapong Poku & Siblings, Samuel Nii Aryee Hemans Arday & Sibling, Alan Nii Arday & Siblings, Papa Yaw Amoo Antwi and Siblings, Edwin Nii Arday & Siblings, Emmanuel Nii Aryee Arday & Siblings, Cynthia Naa Ardua Arday & Siblings, Edmund Bonsu & Siblings, Elma Naa Ardua Arday & Siblings, Edmund Nii Aryee Arday & Siblings, Alex Nuamah and Siblings, Serwaa Akoto Arday & Siblings, Dennis Nana Yaw Akuamoah Boateng & Siblings, Alexander Embir Sackey & Sibling, and Kwaku Edusei Peasah & Siblings.

Chief mourners

Nii Ahene Nunoo III (Abola Mantse), Andrews Ofori Arday (Acting Head of Arday Family), Edmund Nii Ofori Arday, Mrs. Grace De-Groot Bird, Mrs. Rose Omaboe, Owura Kwao Hemans, Obuama Addy (Head of Family), Awudu Nelson, Mrs Victoria Apaloo, Christiana Annan, the entire Arday, Kotei and Allied families, home and abroad, and The Grace Methodist Society, Lartebiokorshie.

Announced by

Nii Ahene Nunoo III (Abola Mantse), Andrews Ofori Arday (Acting Head of Arday Family), Edmund Nii Ofori Arday, Laryea Family of Afienaa: Mrs. Grace De-Groot Bird, Mrs. Rose Omaboe, Owura Kwao Hemans, Obuama Addy (Head of Family), Dickens Family of Sekondi, Ackon family of Elmina, The Heads of Naa Shormeh Kotei Weku (Osu), and the entire Arday, Kotei and allied families.