Tears and laughter as community celebrates beloved resident Gemey Abrahams
From trampoline jumps with grandchildren to dedicated community work, Gemey Abrahams is being remembered as a woman full of grace and heart.
In a peaceful park area, forming part of the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens in Emmarentia, a simple wooden bench now looks out over a swing set and open green lawns where children run and play.
It is here, near the 1st Greenside Scouts Hall, that family, friends, and residents gathered to remember Gemey Abrahams – a woman whose kindness and warmth left a lasting mark on the communities around her.
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A remembrance day, organised by the Emmarentia Residents Association (ERA), included the unveiling of the bench, as well as four planted trees in her honour. Yet throughout the afternoon, it became clear that Abrahams’ greatest legacy was not only in the memorial itself, but in the lives she touched so deeply.
Her grandchildren delivered emotional tributes, remembering a grandmother who joined them on trampolines, laughed beside swimming pools, and embraced their interests wholeheartedly. When one grandchild became fascinated with sewing, Abrahams patiently taught her stitch by stitch.
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After the formal speeches ended and refreshments were shared, the family gathered together on the bench for photographs before settling there quietly, talking and reminiscing while Abrahams’ grandchildren played nearby on the swings. The scene felt fitting for a woman remembered for making people feel safe, loved, and connected.
Her son, Stirling Andrew Levesley, described the memorial as deeply meaningful. “Having a physical place dedicated to her in the community means a lot.”
ERA chairperson Saber Manjoo remembered Abrahams as meticulous, level-headed, and thoughtful. Someone who gave so much of herself, both through her volunteer work and her career as a town planner.
As the afternoon light softened across the gardens, the bench became more than a memorial; it became a place where Gemey Abrahams’ presence could still be felt – in the laughter of children, the quiet conversations of family, and the peaceful community space she would have loved.
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