Solomon Kwami Avotri

Rev. Dr. Solomon Kwami Avotri, age 83 of Trotwood, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at Miami Valley Hospital. He was born January 23, 1937 in Ghana, West Africa, son of the late Matthias Kofi Avotri and Cecelia Yawa Tsekpo.

Solomon Kwami Avotri was born at Sovie to the late Matthias Kofi Avotri and Cecelia Yawa Tsekpo in the Volta Region of Ghana, on January 23, 1937. Solomon was the first of six children; two of whom are already deceased.
He grew up mostly with his grandparents, Johannes and Alice Avotri. Johannes was the founder and chief presbyter of the E.P. Church at Sovie. He started schooling at the then E. P. Primary School, continuing with what was then called Junior School. Both the Primary and Junior Schools lasted six years. He continued his education at what was then called Senior School (later known as Middle School) at the then E. P. Senior School at Kpando in the Volta Region which was a boarding school. In January of 1955 after successfully passing the Common Entrance Examination, he was admitted to Form 1 at Mawuli School, Ho.

In 1960 he was admitted to the then Sixth Form at Mawuli School, however because of his interest in engineering he withdrew and gained admission to the then University of Science and Technology, Kumasi for the Sixth Form course. He discontinued the engineering course and enrolled in a Mathematics teaching certification course at the then Advanced Teacher Training College (A.T.T.C.), Winneba. After graduating from the A.T.T.C., he taught Mathematics at the then Abuakwa State College, Kibi, and Accra Teacher Training College. Solomon Avotri was a founding member of the "Volta Evangelistic Association" (VEA) that was formed in 1965 with the purpose of evangelizing in the Volta Region of Ghana.
In 1972, he got married to Christine Kpeh, and they had four children (three boys and one girl): Kafui, Mawufemor, Setorwu, and Edem. In 1985, his first marriage fell apart; and he got married to Rosina Adiku in 1998. Together, they had a blended family of six children, including Etornam and Mawuli Theophilus Goka.

In 1975, he enrolled at the University of Ghana, Legon, and graduated with BSc. (Administration with Accounting major) in 1978. After graduation, he again taught Mathematics briefly at the Accra Academy. It was during his final year at Legon that he felt called into full-time Christian ministry and was admitted to the Trinity College at Legon. But he had the opportunity to come to the United States where he enrolled at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio in 1979, and graduated with the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree in 1982.

After the MDiv program, he enrolled in the Joint Ph.D. program of Iliff School of Theology and the University of Denver at Denver, Colorado. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Religious and Theological Studies in 1991. In 1993, Dr. Avotri was ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In 2002, he was also ordained as Elder by the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Avotri has been teaching at the Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio since his graduation from Denver. He was a tenured Professor of Biblical Studies at Payne Seminary until his death.
Dr. Avotri was hospitalized early part of May at the Miami Valley hospital, Dayton Ohio but unfortunately did not return home as he has done on previous hospital admissions. He passed away in the early hours of June 23, 2020.
Solomon will be missed by his loving wife of 22 years Rosina; four children, Kafui (Janet) Avotri, Mawufemor (Charles) Quansah, Setorwu (Juliet) Avotri, Edem (Alice) Avotri; step-children, Etornam Goka and Mawuli Theophilus Goka; grandchildren, Charles Quansah jr, Philip Quansah, Khyronessa Avotri, Jaden Avotri, Makayla Avotri, Nathan Avotri, Aseye Avotri, Selom Avotri, Duke Avotri, Emefa Avotri, brothers and sisters, Dr. Kosi Avotri, MD, Aurelia Mansah Avotri, Grace Ama Avotri.

Dr. Avotri believes that biblical principles constitute solid foundation on which one can construct one's philosophy of life. He points out the Apostle Paul's triad of these principles: "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13), and that in every individual's life, there is always room for growth in relation to these principles.


Family will receive friends Friday, July 10, 2020 from 5-8 p.m. at Newcomer North Chapel, 4104 Needmore Rd., Dayton. Wearing of a face mask is kindly required for the viewing.

The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Newcomer North Chapel. Officiating minister, Rev. Betty W. Holley, Ph.D., Presiding Elder, AME Church. Burial will follow at Polk Grove Cemetery. Due to the corona virus pandemic, only family members and close family friends are invited to attend the home going services.

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