Loved Actonville pharmacy owner will be deeply missed

Nazeema Hill (73), who founded Nazeema’s Pharmacy over three decades ago in Actonville, recently died of a heart attack.

Her legacy lives on through her loved ones and her pharmacy.

“When she opened this pharmacy she lived in Eldorado Park Extension Three,” her sister, Amedah, said.

“She then moved to Observatory to be near her children’s school.”

Nazeema never resided in Benoni but held the area close enough to her heart to open a pharmacy in Actonville in 1988, and ensured it ran adequately until her death on April 2.

“When I went to Actonville after her death, I realised Nazeema gave herself to her customers; she saw them as her family and had a lot of compassion for whoever she was in contact with,” Hill explained.

“Her customers all had a personal relationship with her. They were not only crying for her, they came to the pharmacy sobbing for her.

“She cried with them in time of their need because to her it was not about the money but rather how she could accommodate them. My sister was their friend, confidant, mother and sister.

“I must add that Nazeema also put a few learners through the University of Cape Town as pharmacists.”

Hill said both Nazeema and her late husband, Jerome Fredericks, lived their lives as saints, servicing the community.

“Her husband was an acupuncturist and used to do acupuncture free of charge for people who could not afford his services,” Hill explained.

“He was gentle; always with a smile and kind word for people, so they complemented each other. Jerome died in September 2015. He left her pharmacy at 10am that day, went home and died at noon.

“I think she never overcame her husband’s death. Nazeema was heartbroken until the day she died.”

Nazeema is survived by her children, Ebrahim and Umna Fredericks, and her younger sister, Amedah.

“I wish she was here to hear all the good things people said about her,” Hill added.

“What a loss for me personally and whoever crossed her path. She will be remembered for her beautiful smile and generosity.”

Nazeema’s Pharmacy will continue to trade in Actonville.

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