This memorial website was created in memory of our beloved Father Elias Ndi Bell, 57, born on October 26, 1957 and passed away on August 27, 2015. He was our hero - his legacy lives on!
FUNERAL PROGRAM
OREGON – REVISED
Saturday, September 26th 2015
Viewing and Service – 2:00PM- 4:00PM at :
Springer and Sons Aloha Funeral Home and Crematory
4150 S.W. 185th
PO Box 5308
Aloha, OR 97006
Phone: 503.356.1000
Wake Keeping – 6:00PM – 2:00AM
Cooper Mountain Church
6955 SW 201st Ave.
Beaverton, OR 97078
Tuesday, September 29th 2015
Departure for Cameroon
CAMEROON
Thursday, October 1st 2015
Arrival in Cameroon , Douala Airport
Body received by family, Douala Airport
Proceed to Akum mortuary, Bamenda
Friday, October 2nd 2015
Family Dinner at Mami Susannah Mah’s house
Saturday, October 3rd 2015
Removal of corpse from Akum Mortuary – 8:00AM
Viewing at Mami Susannah Mah’s house – 8:45AM – 11:00AM
Church service at Ntamulung Presbyterian Church – 11:30AM – 12:30AM
Burial – 1:00PM
Reception – 2:00PM
Sunday, October 4th 2015
Celebration and traditional dances
Tributes
Leave a tributeWe all are in a passing phrase, may God guide your soul, Amen.
From the New Life For All prayer cell of Sonac Street,Bamenda to the bustling campus life of Cameroon Protestant College,Bali,your name ran "grin,grin,grin".Elias Ndi Bell was our class bell.Young, intelligent and creative, it was difficult to bye-pass him unnoticed.
I still recall the days we shared "Pinyin lonka" (courtesy of Awa Daniel ) during preps and earned hours of punishment from Pa Renger.I still recall the guava and sugar cane adventures in Bessen and the Brooks .We raced up and down the Matterhorn on Foundation Day for fun as Achidi Ngangfor kept the trophy.I cannot forget our afternoons in the college library as we read as many novels of the African Writers Series in order to win the prizes of Miss Schwards.I cannot forget our time as Chapel workers and the daily routine of chanting "Courage Brother .do not stumble." In fact, we did not stumble because we kept the "honour roll" academically.
Elias! I cannot forget our classroom orchestra where we drummed our desks and mouthed the guitars as we mimicked Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder they Come"; Wrinkar Experience's "Ready ,Steady ,Go.." and Prince Nico Mbarga's "Sweet Mother".
Did I say Prince Nico Mbarga? Yes,we were part of the " Competition for Kumba " as far as fashion was concern.We walked the Sonac street and Commercial Avenue in "apaga" and " salamander" to Roxy cinema and Community hall for pictures and tea time dances. On campus, we were fashion celebrities as we posed before ST and GB Photos. At home, we shared meals in Mami Johanna and Mami Susanna's kitchens.
Hey Elias, lest I forget. There, come the girls on campus (CPC Bali). Like one man, we rose up in revolt and promised them hell until Mr.Nfonyam Samuel silenced the young men with "tins of provocation" with grass cutting around the girls' bungalow.
The last time you came home and we shared a drink, we laughed over our Afro hair-dos that had given way to "open spaces". You promised to visit me in Wum. I prepared corn-fufu and roasted chicken to honour you. You did not come.YOU WILL NEVER COME.
You were a friend, a playmate and classmate.I loved you but our Lord and maker loves you more. Go in Peace, dear Brother. Greet our class mates-Charles Munjo, Mbuwir Samuel, Ebongue Felix, Musaga Humphrey, Dashaco Stephen et al. I look forward to meeting you when the hour shall come.For now, I sing,
Courage brother,do not stumble,
Though thy path be dark as night;
There's a star to guide the humble,
TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE .
Vitalis Ogbeama Sr.
President
Nigerian Community.
There must be a zillion of us there,
And it must be where we truly belong,
For we are not of this earth.
We must have made some list to be born into this world.
Was it a winner's list or a loser's list?
For we are not meant to be blissful here on this earth.
We are blindfolded in here crying,
We struggle to gain an education of the place,
We build our homes here and make families on earth,
We think we belong here after all, but suddenly we must go,
Without consent, we must go.
We are yanked out.
We must leave all we have and know,
Without a choice, we are blindingly returned
To where we do not know, but it must be where we belong,
For we are not meant to be here on this earth.
A week ago Elias Bell was ruthlessly yanked out of this life.
He was young, he was my friend, he had plans
But that did not matter.
He had to go,
To a place he knows not.
But it must be where he belongs,
For this world is not where we belong.
Why must we come here,
And why must we go?
It must not be a winner's list that brought us here.
It is cruel.
Goodbye to oblivion my friend.
When my day comes, I'll "accept" my fate,
And join you into another ruthless circle of whatever,
or is there a place we truly belong to forever?
I mourn for you my friend.
Augustine Ambe
9/2/15
Elias is with glasses, just behind me.
Augie Ambe's photo.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207542702796772&set=a.1256980835724.2038428.1565713468&type=1
Leave a Tribute
We all are in a passing phrase, may God guide your soul, Amen.
My Angel
Elias was a great man who taught me many things.. My heart is heavy Im sorry I was not there in the end like I should have been. He was a mentor. He taught me how to do many things and helped my sons whenever we needed it. I love you and miss you. I was wrong for leaving the way I did. You always had my back. I made many memories with you. My beautiful dress you brought me home from Africa and all the lil things will be cherished. I love you and may u rest in peace. Watch over me. I appreciate all you taught me and showed me.... I called you last night... I wanted to tell you I missed you. I will never forget you. Everything in my house reminds me of you. The strongest man I knew...The realist man I knew... The most caring man I knew... And the wisest man I knew... The world lots a great man but the heavens gained a wonderful soul... Xoxo...
Elias,you were an excellent friend,my brother and my leader
We did lots of good and fun things all these years.You taught me lots of good and great things.I will miss you a lot and you will always be in my memories.may you rest in peace my friend.
So Long Elias
I just want to say, Elias we had an amazing run we had our ups and downs but I know we loved eachother. Sometimes you just cant live with the one you love. I am so blessed to have gotten to know you and spend some amazing time together. You made me laugh and cry but most of the time you made me laugh. R.I.P. Pa Bell you will be missed by everyone that knew you. Thank you for making a part of my life wonderful. I will Love you forever.