By Marcus Bangura
Magdalena Thaduba Turay (2003 -2024) was an eye-catching 21 yr. Old Sierra Leonean/ American student at the Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in the United States, aspiring to become a Medical doctor, ‘a travelling doctor’ with utmost passion to serve humanity.
However, her life was cut short in a tragic head-on- car accident on I 95, Philadelphia, by 44-year-old David Banillo on Sunday, 14th April 2024, robbing the family, church, the community, America and Sierra Leone and the world in large of a precious jewel, the crème de la crème. As reported, David Banillo, who was driving recklessly on the wrong way under the influence of alcohol, crashed into Thaduba’s car and killed her,
Family members, the community, and the University of Cheyney, Sierra Leone, are caught in grief for the untimely death of their 21-year-old gem, who distinguished herself through academic excellence, hard work, commitment, diligence, passion and result-oriented intuitiveness, fluid with philanthropism, and above all full with the milk of human kindness through her contributions to humanity with her passion Project in which she was supporting Girl Child Education in her native homeland Sella Limba Chiefdom, Kamakwie, Karena District, North/Western Region of Sierra Leone, until her tragic death on I 95, Philadelphia.
Early Life
Magdalena Thaduba Turay was born on 26th January 2003 in Wellington in the East End of Freetown to Samuel Dilito Turay and Fatmata Turay, both from Kamakwie, Kerena district and resident of Pennsylvania, the United States. Her father, Turay, though born in Kamakwie, was raised in Kabala, where he got his primary and secondary school education before pursuing university education at the Njala University, he became a lecturer, before travelling to the United States (Philadelphia) in September 2005 with his family including Thaduba (about 2 yrs) in pursuit of greener pastures.
EDUCATION AND IMPACT
In Philadelphia, Thaduba was an outstanding student in character at Cardinal O’Hara High School. Based on her satisfactory, outstanding, and excellent academic performance, she gained admission to Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in 2021 as a prestigious Keystone Scholar—a four-year scholarship by the State of Pennsylvania often given to students for excellent performance.
‘’She was working to becoming a medical doctor with the vision of working in Sierra Leone and other developing countries….as a travelling doctor”. Magdalena’s father, Samuel Dilito Turay, told C4D Media Newspaper in an exclusive interview on Sunday, 21st April 2024. Turay further stated that the death of Magdalena was a big loss, not only to him but to the family, the church, the community and their home (Kamakwie, Karena District), where they hailed from.
‘’Let us remember and celebrate Magdalena’s life. Her spirit and contributions will never be forgotten,‘’ stated Aaron A. Walton, President of the Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, where Magdalena Thaduba Turay pursued nursing to become a Medical Doctor. The statement describes how she had been a magnet of attention to the University in every facet.
The University, through its public relations, expressed sadness at the untimely death of Magdalena Thaduba Turay in a public notice to Cheyney University students, staff, and faculty. The Cheyney University President Aaron A. Walton stated ‘’The University family mourns the tragic death of this bright young mind taken from us in a tragic car accident. We expressed our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and all who knew Magdalena. This loss reminds us of the fragility of life and the bonds that connect us all.’’
In honour of Magdalena Thaduba Turay, the University organized a one-week counselling session from 16th April between 2 pm to 4 pm daily at the Campus Wellness Center at the Marcus Foster Student Union. The counselling sessions were offered for those in need, and a vigil was held on Friday, 19th April 2024, in memory of Thaduba.
At Cheyney University, Thaduba co-founded the “Gospel Dance Team’’ to propagate Christ and uplift other students who were going through difficulties. She served as a motivator for her peers and was always willing to help them with their academic work and other support to succeed. She formed a group that brings together college students (Nursing and medical science) to support each other in completing school work, homework, projects…., and an online study group.
Thaduba was a model Participant in the “Bridge for Black Americans Pursuing Medicine (BBAPM)” at Cheyney University. She was a model lady in character and focused on academia. She was an example for her peers and a constant motivator. She was always ready, willing and available to go the extra mile to help as much as she could. She was a skilled hairdresser who encouraged her peers to learn the skill as a way to make money and save money. Through her hair dressing skills, she made extra money to support her projects in Sierra Leone.
PHILANTHROPIST
Back home in Sierra Leone, Thaduba Magdalena Turay is a young philanthropist who has given her all to support Girl Child Education in her native hometown in Kamakwie, helping poor families send their children to school. Her middle name, THADUBA, means Blessing among the Limba ethnic group, which is to say, she was a blessing to her community in her home town and which equally suggests that she was a blessing to her university, community and church, considering her immense contributions to humanity. As the name implies, Thaduba/Blessing, Magdalena Turay, was a blessing, sacrificially giving as much as she could to support those in need. In 2021, at 18, Thaduba Magdalena Turay took part in the “Passion Project Competition” in Washington, DC. Her passion project was geared toward supporting girl child education in Sierra Leone. She came second in that competition and was given a prize to support her passion project. Thaduba used the funds to support several girls at the Kamakwie Wesleyan Secondary School, and she continued to support them, though she never met them in person using her funds. Thaduba planned to expand her support to girls throughout Sierra Leone, irrespective of tribe, religion or region.
In pursuing her passion, Thaduba encouraged and supported her parents (Samuel Dilito Turay and Fatmata Turay) to construct a clinic at sherbro Town, 4Mile and at their Kayawuyae village, Sella Limba Chiefdom Kamakwie in the Kerena district. Plans were also on to construct another clinic in Kabala, Koinadugu district. She had plans to work in these clinics at the completion of her studies
In conclusion, Magdalena Thaduba Turay is gone, but her memories will remain fresh for her passion for serving humanity at her tender age. When Samuel Dilito Turay was asked about how he managed the situation, he responded by saying, ‘’ To God be the glory, under whose canopy he received massive support from the Sierra Leonean Community in the United States, especially members of the Mabohanday Community Family without their unflinching support the road could have been rugged, but they dried my tears. I appreciate them for that and all for their support.’’
