By Ghazali Ibrahim
Popular Nollywood actress Faithia Williams, also known as Faithia Balogun, has announced the death of her mother, revealing the tragic loss occurred just before her 55th birthday party, but was only made known to her after the event ended.
The emotional revelation was shared in a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday, February 9.
In her post, Williams explained that although her birthday fell on Thursday, February 5, the party was held on Sunday, February 8.
She said her mother whose name is Mrs Talayo Abeni Teniola passed away on the eve of the celebration, but family members did not tell her until after the gathering wrapped up.
“Unbeknownst to me, my beloved mother died on the eve of my party and the news was cruelly kept away from me,” she wrote.
Describing her late mother as her “cheerleader, prayer warrior, best friend, and gist partner,” Williams said the news still feels unreal and painful. She also thanked well-wishers and asked for privacy as the family grieves.
“Your love and prayers will mean a lot to me and my siblings this period. Burial details will be announced later,” she added.
The announcement has drawn an outpouring of condolences from colleagues and fans across the entertainment industry, highlighting the deep respect and affection many hold for the veteran actress and her family.
Williams has had a long and successful career in Nollywood, and this personal loss comes less than two years after she also mourned the death of her father in 2024.
