Olaiya Odufunke was the mother of reality TV star and entrepreneur, Mimi Faust, who is recognized for her appearance on the reality TV show, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. The mother of three dedicated her life to serving the church of Scientology. She was a full-time worker and active in the religious organization.
The Scientologist, while fulfilling a lifetime of service, left her children searching for a mother, especially Mimi Faust who lived with the feeling of abandonment. Towards the end of her days, Olaiya tried to make up for the time she wasn’t available but cancer had taken away the words that would heal and her strength was locked in the bed she laid.
She was placed on hospice care as surgeries failed and on the 27th of October 2003, Olaiya passed away at the City of Hope medical center in Duarte, California.
Biography of Olaiya Odufunke: Was She a Nigerian?
Olaiya Odufunke is a Yoruba name and the Yoruba people are mostly found in Nigeria. This is why people have come to wonder if the late Scientologist was from the West African nation; she wasn’t. Rather, she was a native of Hampton born on the 2nd of December 1943 as Gloria Eva Simmons in Newport News, Virginia.
A graduate of George P. Phenix and Hampton University, Olaiya got married to Hulbert Henrique James in 1963, and their union was blessed with two children: Kwesi James who was born on April 7, 1964, and her first daughter Ingrid Veronica James born on the 25th of April 1966. She had her last daughter Mimi James with Lawrence Robert Faust in an extramarital affair; she was born on the 3rd of January 1972.
Olaiya Odufunke also had three grandchildren named Lena James, Eva Giselle Jordan, and Babatunde James; three siblings (Sylvia Thomas, Cynthia Singleton, and Lawrence Simmons), a nephew and a niece respectively named Kyle and Monique; two aunts, and several cousins.
She lived a life of dedication and commitment until her death. Odufunke served the Church of Scientology for most of her life without thinking of her children who needed a mother.
Facts to Know about the Late Scientologist, Olaiya Odufunke
Apart from the fact that she was a devoted member of the Church of Scientologist and the mother of Mimi Faust, there are many other things to know about Olaiya and they include the following:
7. She Changed Her Name after She Joined an African Religion
Olaiya Odufunke was at birth called Gloria Eva Simmons. She change her last name to James when she got married. Years later, she embraced a newfound African religion that made her adopt an African name. She became known as Olaiya Odufunke; the name is most popular among the Yorubas of the western part of Nigeria.
Olaiya was so drawn to the religion that she adopted African names for her children as well. However, she was later convinced by a lover to join the church of Scientology.
6. Olaiya Odufunke Was Divorced after She Had an Affair with a Married Man
The mother of three got married in 1963 to Hulbert Henrique James with whom she had three children. It was thought that they had a perfect relationship and were happily married but it turned out she was secretly involved with an upstate New York artist named Lawrence Robert Faust.
The affair went on for a couple of years and Olaiya gave birth to Mimi Oluremi Faust. When Hulbert found out about the secret affair and her pregnancy, he filed for divorce and it was finalized two years after Mimi’s birth.
5. Olaiya Odufunnke Abandoned Mimi Faust after She Became a Scientologist
When Olaiya joined the Scientology Sea Organization in 1981, she left Atlanta for the Scientology administrative headquarter in Los Angeles. Olaiya took her youngest daughter with her as she was only nine years old at that time. She left her other children in Atlanta as she considered them old enough to fend for themselves.
However, in an episode of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, Mimi divulged that she was only permitted to meet her mother for only two hours during family time. In 1985 when she clocked 13, she was given options to either join the organization or leave as she was considered a freeloader. This was because she was eating and living in their facility without working for them.
When Mimi rejected the offer, she was kicked out of the church to start a life of her own without being given a penny or being protected by her mother. Mimi added that her mother watched her walk out of the building and said nothing. According to the reality television personality, she felt abandoned and still can’t figure out what her mother’s reasons could have been.
4. Her Daughter Mimi Oluremi Faust Is a Lesbian
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Mimi’s love affair with men over the years has been filled with so much disappointment. In search of love, she decided to try out something different. Olaiya’s daughter shared the news of her relationship with Temara Young, a retired WNBA star, to the surprise of many. The couple reportedly started dating in 2016.
This part of Mimi’s life has been hidden from the public for a long time. However, the pair couldn’t keep it quiet anymore and started feeding fans photos of the time they are spending together on social media. Mimi confirmed their relationship in 2019 when she posted Tamara’s picture on national girlfriend day.
That same year, she shared a selfie they took with her daughter, Eva Giselle, and captioned it “my favorites girls”. It was reported the following year that Olaiya’s daughter got engaged to Temara Young but things went south in 2021 and they parted ways. Nevertheless, the pair rekindled their love on Mimi’s 50th birthday with a second engagement.
3. Olaiya’s Daughter Once Staged a Sex Tape of Herself
Mimi was a long-time girlfriend of Stevie J, an American record producer. They parted ways in 2012 when she caught him cheating on her with Joseline Hernandez. She started dating Nikko London thereafter and in 2014, a sex tape with Nikko was released through vivid entertainment and titled sex scandal in Atlanta.
Just like other leaked tapes, Mimi said it was accidentally misplaced. However, it was later revealed that Mimi staged it all for fame and money and allegedly made about $30,000 from selling the sex tape.
Read Also: Bonnie Bella Jordan Is One Of Stevie J’s 6 Children- Everything About Her
2. Olaiya Odufunnke Died as a Result of Pancreatic Cancer
In 2003, Olaiya was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. At the time it was discovered, it was already at stage 4. She experienced difficulty in digestion and sugar metabolism. Olaiya was sent to the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, California for treatment and proper management.
She fought the sickness for eight months, hoping to leave her sickbed and return to her normal life. Sadly, the clutches of death had a hold of her. On October 27, 2003, at the age of 59, Olaiya took her last breath with her children right there with her.
1. She Worked as a Scientologist for 22 Years
Olaiya joined Scientology in 1981. Thereafter, she signed a billion-year sea contract and pledged to work for the church throughout her lifetime. First, she was assigned to the office of special affairs and was based at the Scientology administrative headquarter in Los Angeles.
Later, from 2000 to 2003, she moved to OSA in Clearwater, Florida, and was assigned as the clearance in charge.
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