The Uwala Abaka community in Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State was in mourning yesterday as they laid to rest one of their esteemed sons, Nollywood actor John Odonwodo, widely known as Junior Pope.
The burial rites began with a commendation mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Parish in Ukehe. Before this, his body laid in state at his father’s compound, where family, friends, and colleagues paid their last respects before he was moved to a private venue for interment.
Colleagues and fans gathered to honor the late actor.
Junior Pope’s wife, Jennifer Awele, was visibly distraught, shedding tears throughout the final procession. Their eldest son also broke down while trying to console his mother.
Notably, some prominent actors and the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) were absent from the ceremony.
The 43-year-old actor tragically died on April 10 along with four others when their boat capsized on the Anam River in Anambra State while returning from a movie shoot.
Prior to the accident, Pope had shared a video of himself praying for a safe journey, visibly apprehensive about the river.
At the burial, veteran actress Rita Edochie expressed her heartbreak over Pope’s death, praying for his soul to rest in peace.
On Instagram, she announced her arrival in Ukehe, expressing disbelief that the gathering was indeed for Junior Pope.
Junior Pope began his acting career in 2004 with a minor role in “Lost in the Jungle” and rose to fame with the 2007 film “Secret Adventures” directed by Tchidi Chikere.
He remained one of Nollywood’s most sought-after actors until his untimely death.
