12/04/2026
A General Has Fallen: A Tribute to the Life and Legacy of A Brother Samuel Nana William
​“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7
​To the friends, family, the global Deaf community, and the entire body of Deaf For Christ Ministries (DCM):
​It is with a heavy heart, yet a spirit anchored in the sovereignty of God, that I announce the homegoing of our dearest brother, a most trusted partner, and a founding pillar of this mission, Brother, Samuel Nana William. On Wednesday, April 8th, 2026, Nana transitioned from labor to rest, entering the eternal arms of the Master he served so faithfully.
He will be laid to rest on Tuesday 21 April 2026
Funeral service at Brown Memorial United Methodist Church (UMC) Calabatown, @1:00pm
increment at Calabatown Cemetery.
​They say friends are the family we choose, but Nana was the brother God chose for me. Since his arrival in Sierra Leone in 2015, when I meet him, he became more than a companion; he became my shadow and my strength. We shared a home, we shared our meals, and most importantly, we shared a sacred altar. Every morning, before the world could intrude, we fell on our knees together to seek the face of God. The silence in our home today is loud, but the echo of our morning prayers remains a source of comfort.
​In 2021, when the Lord called me to establish Deaf For Christ Ministries, Nana did not just witness the vision—he carried it. As a founding board member, his quiet, humble spirit served as a shield against the "Barking Dogs" of discouragement.
​Whenever the weight of the work for the Deaf community felt too heavy, or when resources seemed scarce, Nana would look at me with his characteristic wisdom and say:
​“Brother Paul, be strong and trust God. He will perfect what He has started in you.” He believed in the Ministry when it was merely seeds in our hearts. He was a man of profound faith who didn’t need to be loud to be powerful.
​On the day of his passing, while I was at my station translating the Bible into Sign Language, the call came that he was slipping away. I went home and rushed to his side, my heart in a storm of disbelief. I closed that door, I held his hand, and I hugged him. I cried out for a “Lazarus Miracle,” urging him to rise because of the vast work still ahead of us.
​But as I held him, I realized that Nana had already finished his work. He had lived the life of a faithful servant. Though he did not physically rise in that room, the fire of his faith rose inside of me. I am heartbroken and weak in the flesh, but my spirit remains unwavering. Knowing that Jesus is still Lord, and God is still on the throne.
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​To the people of Ghana, thank you for gifting us a man who became a pillar of Sierra Leone. To the Deaf community, you have lost a true advocate and a peacemaker.
​Nana, your name is woven into the very fabric of Deaf For Christ Ministries. We will build the school. We will build the vocational center. We will house the children. Every time the “Silent Power” moves in our church and every time a Deaf soul is reached for Christ, it will be a tribute to your unwavering faith.
​You have moved from my side to the Cloud of Witnesses, where I know you are cheering us on. I will finish the work we started in 2021. I will carry the torch until we meet again at the feet of Jesus.
​Rest in Power, my brother. Rest in Peace, my partner.
​With Love and Eternal Respect,
​Pastor Paul Francis Joseph
Founder & CEO, Deaf For Christ Ministries
Freetown, Sierra Leone
