ANASTASIA KIPPIE ADE - Online Memorial Website

It's been twenty six days precisely that I haven't heard your voice and in my calculation, this is the longest time I've gone in my entire life without hearing you say a word. As the days go by, I'm beginning to feel that vacuum of your absence in my life. I remember how you used to wake me up at 6.00am just to tell me that you hadn't heard from me in a couple of days. Sometimes when I picked up the phone you said that you forgot what you wanted to tell me but would still want to keep me on the phone for a while.

Mami, you were a wonderful woman; you brought so much pride to our family; you did everything in your power to keep this family together; you showed us love and you taught us how to love others; you taught us how to respect others and how to earn others' respect. You opened your doors to everyone. I remember back in the day when you were raising us as teenagers, and how you brought in different children to also help raise them. Although we had no blood relationship with some of them, you treated everyone like they were your own biological child.

Mami, you raised us with iron fists which made some of us in those days to think you were too strict. But, as we grew older, we began to understand that it was the right thing to do. The Bible states that "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" Proverbs 22:6. We are what we are today because of the way you raised us. You made us to understand that hard work pays off and you did that by trying out your hand in different types of petit businesses and small scale farming. We used to get angry when you asked us to go to the farm or to go sell something to make a little profit. Today, some of us are excelling in those same areas of training we got from you.You encouraged us to stay in school not just with words but by you going back to school at an older age. At my age, I'm back in school trying to achieve my dream because of the inspiration I got from you.

I remember when I was a young boy, you started training us how to study the Bible.You organized compulsory evening family prayers where everyone was expected to come to the family room and there you assigned one person to lead in worship. After worship, you gave each one of us a prayer topic to lead the rest in prayer and because I was so naive and shy, I did not like it  and did everything to not participate. Sometimes, I even made silly excuses and when you found out that that was the case, you changed the time to 5.00 o'clock in the morning so that no one could make any more flimsy excuses--this was before we even started our morning chores. That training has in fact built me such that I am trying to bring up my kids in a similar God-fearing manner.

Mami, it is rather unfortunate that you are gone this soon! I wish you had hung around for a while to reap from the seeds you sowed. I remember the statement you made when I first introduced my wife to you in Buea-then, as a friend. She brought some vegetables to you that she had harvested behind her students' residence and when you found out that she was a university student who did gardening alongside school at the time, you said " my daughter thank you very much and may God bless you". Little did you know that she was going to end up being your daughter-in-law. Since then you have shown so much love to her and our kids, and also to her parents and her entire family.

Mami, you loved your Christian Women's fellowsip group (C.W.F) so much that you inspired others to join the group and you together with them served God. I remember how you used to lead your zone in singing; you had a strong and golden voice which drew a lot of people whenever you sang. We your children drew a lot of inspiration from that aspect of your life. Of course we're carrying on your legacy because you taught us that one of the ways to worship God is by singing praises to His holy Name.

I believe there is no other way you would have loved to depart this sinful world other than the way you left- just after fellowshipping with your fellow C.W.F members! Even more dramatic is the fact that you were dressed in your C.W.F kaba and the Drs. had to reap it off to try to save your life-you were not going to part with it easy! On that fateful day (July 26th,2012), C.W.F women and the pastor together with family members and well wishers,  some of whom were in prayers with you the night before, gathered around your hospital bed singing and praying until you took your final breath. I believe your transition was so smooth and it gives me so much consolation to feel that you are in a better place. You have gone to join God's angels and I believe you will be watching over us.
May the Lord grant you eternal rest until we meet to part no more.


Your best Booh Reeves Ade (2nd Son)

Dear Mami,

Your death has left a vacuum that only God can fill.

Mami, you spoke to me, Bassek and 'boy' on Saturday, July 21; I could not imagine that was the last time I was going to listen to that voice that has been encouraging me all along and instructing me on what has to be done for the family back home in Cameroon.

The last assignment you gave me Mami, you couldn’t even wait to get the reply? Death, how cruel are you? 

Mami, I cannot imagine that you are no more. Thank you for all the advice, encouragement, correction, admiration, hard work, patience and strictness you made me to endure, only God and God alone will reward you.

Though we shed tears for your endless race, we are happy that God ended the race for you.

Where you are, may your soul rest in the bosom of the Lord God Almighty till we meet again.

Adieu, Mami.

Celine and family

 

Mami Ade, Sister Ana, "Queen of Chomba" as you proudly addressed yourself, where are you????

When you celebrated your 40th anniversary in CWF, in all excitement you gave us anecdotes of your CWF activities and that you will die in CWF. What a prophesy!!!!

Your imposing personality, spiritual mentor, friend to the old and young, ever ready to mentor all and sundry, straight forwardness, no nonsense lady who called a spade a spade in no uncertain terms......you said it as you perceived it with fear of nobody except your creator.

You pivoted around your family-your children, husband and other people affiliated to them. We were your children in CWF and you treated us thus. You will be sorely missed but I remember you saying on 7/25/12 that you will pray for me. As you join the Lord, remember me. Pray for all of us. We have a lot happening here!!!!

You transitioned so peacefully that I sit here and wish I could do the same after a retreat. Continue to rest until we meet again. "God sends us His spirit to befriend and help us..." was the song you asked us to sing 3 times during the retreat. Now, your 'darkened road is clearer, heavy burdens lighter'...'slipping backwards never' and now you are in 'your remade world'. Your name on our lips will never cease.

May you rest in absolute peace in the Lord my sister in Christ

Oh! Mami, how painful it is to finally accept your passing on to a better place. 

Mami, the memories you created will live on even though you are no more.  Mami, you were such an exemplary woman, from the way you lived your life and the way you brought us up.  You were a pacesetter and not a follower.  Mami, you thought me to believe in myself despite the upheavals in life. 

I remember vividly one of the very last conversations we had about my studies.  You encouraged me not to give up despite the circumstances, you told me that the race was not for the fastest, but it was the end that mattered.  You were my shoulders to cry on, my biggest advocate, my prayer warrior. 

I remember the very early morning prayers you had, presenting us your children to God, ceaselessly praying for us.  Oh! Mami, who is going to do this for us? Mami, I am going to MISS you so much, for the pain is unbearable. 

I also remember the early morning calls you made to me, anxious to know when I will be coming down to Washington, DC to spend time with you and dad during my breaks from school.  The smile on your face when you saw my car pull up infront of your house after driving 4 hours from Lynchburg, Virginia, and you coming out of the house to welcome me. 

Mami, you were so proud of me even when I sold myself short.  Mami, all the plans we had for the future after I finished with my studies, have been curtailed. Mami, I thank God for your life, for you served both man and God well. 

May the Almighty grant me the strength to be the kind of woman you were.  From your life of service, I believe these were the words you heard from the Lord "Welcome home my good and faithful servant, well done." 

Farewell Mami, the virtuous woman.


Roseline - Mami's last child (her Benjamin as she fondly called me).

Rejoice in the Lord; i say again rejoice!!!

Though in pain of losing a loved one; a granny; “Mamie” as funny called by all who had the privilege of being raised by you. We rejoice knowing that you’ve fought a good fight and now you’re resting at the Lord’s palace.

As a child, I always knew you to be my granny especially as I was about 3 or 4yrs when taken to Buea to stay with you; since my granny Mama Lucy Ngochina travelled a lot. As such; when you told me one day that my granny had come to visit; I remember refusing to say hi because to me; that wasn’t right.

You’ve raised many children and thus have done your assignment here on earth. We may not believe your time has come; but like all humans; we’re never satisfied. God’s time is the best, and to Him; your task is done.

The sad news came and left me in shock. I even lost words to speak to my “twin” sister Roselyn Ateh; but then, after reflecting on your teachings of Hope and that we need to Trust the Lord at all times; I had I let go.

Evening Prayers was a routine you established at home; something that made the family grow strong and know; we need to pray together, discuss days’ events and make amends for the coming day.

Mamie you never let us down. You taught us many things and especially the Christian virtues. There were times one could say you were too hard and made the house a militia yet; you were simply following God’s word that said: Train a child the way he/she should go and he will never depart from it whilst old. Your broods (both biological and those raised by you) voice the result. We thank you for being there through the sad and good times; you’re exemplary.

If I continue through this memory lane; guess there won’t be enough space for others to light a candle.                        Rest from your labour; Mamie till we meet beyond.

Adieu Mamie 

Nathalie Ngokell Ntamark;
London.