Helen Bokeng Carlson was born on July 17th, 1970 in Bota Limbe, South West region of Cameroon to John Akeva Taba Carlson of blessed memories and Martha Yoh Carlson nee' Eseme. She was the second of eight children and the first girl to the family. Her name Bokeng is a great symbol to the family as she was named after her maternal grand mother, Helen Bokeng Eseme, also of blessed memories. Her grand mother was very family oriented, strong, hardworker and God fearing. These attributes were just what Bokeng was all about.

Growing up in Middle farms in Limbe, Bokeng was not just a sister, she was brought up to be a mother to all. At a very tender age, Bokeng knew how to cook and cater for the entire household. she was a confidiant to her mother and together they mapped out stretegies to care for the  entire household. She and only she would give you the menue for the week for the house. She did shopping and help run her mother's small businesses at home.Bokeng was her mother's trusted partner.

Bokeng attended Government School Bota where she did her elementary school Education and obtained her First School Leaving Certificate. She later did her secondary school education at the Comprehensive College in Limbe. In  the coming  years, she joined her late aunt, Grace Fese Anisiobi nee' Eseme in Enugu Nigeria where she studied nursing and later obtained her nursing diploma. She returned  to Limbe three years later and continued her training with CDC in Bota. She worked as a school nurse for several years in Douala and later met her husband Samuel Che. They were married in Kumba but her marriage to Samuel Che was short-lived as he passed couple of years later.

Bokeng was brought up in a very strong presbyterian home. She was very involved in church and God fearing  just like her parents. It was this strong faith that kept her going. she was very soft spoken and very respected by all. Bokeng never had children of her own but took care of many of her siblings children. She was a small business owner  and lived in Douala until she fell sick. She leaves behind her mother, aunty Martha,  7 siblings : Major Carlson, Akeva Carlson, Hannah Carlson, Ida Carlson-Asu, Patlaw Carlson, Vero  and Solomon Carlson and many cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews and many relatives and friends to mourn her.

Bokeng was a very private person. she did great things but prefered to stay off the spotlight. She played a very big role in supporting her mother  and taking care of her siblings. Bokeng was selfless and took great pride in putting her family first. She will be remembered for her generosity, love and humanity but most important, we will remember her for not just being a sister, but a mother to all. It's because of this that her brother, Patlaw Carlson said " Bokeng you were like a mother to me and a grandmother to my kids"

Until we meet again.