Sweet Mother, it’s been 9 years since you departed on this fateful day. Everyone else was celebrating, as I was driving through the hills and valleys from Kumba to Akum.
Life has not and will never be the same again for us without you. Mother, bring all your children back to God. My ernest prayer is that none of us shall miss the mark.Thank you for your prayers. Continue to rest well my Sweet Mother.
I miss you dearly

Some days I just get lost in my thoughts. Days like today. I ask myself how everything would have played out if we still had you here with us. Would things have felt a little warmer? I find myself playing alternate realities over and over again. Sometimes I even get to play pretend...
7 years after, the hurt I feel is more profound because I wish you were here to see what we all are becoming. I know you are smiling down at me, but honestly I would really have loved to see that smile mummy. I miss you, now more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.

My SweetMother, another Christmas without you! I miss you so much !
My good head is on my shoulders making you proud Mama! May your precious soul continue to RIP!

Five years and i still miss you as strongly as ever! Continue to rest in peace Mummy Philo ❤️

Being 3 years since you left and I have never found the strength to write a tribute out of fear that I’ll never have words enough to describe the void, the emptiness, the vacuum which your passing into glory created within me. I always felt I was going to have enough time to show you how grateful I am and how proud I feel to be your Bébé Awu. I actually feel bad because I didn’t get to show you more than often how much you meant to me. Regardless of the distance you were ever present and never stopped calling and praying for me. Today I know your prayers for me never went in vain. As a teenager I was really naughty with a lot of attitude and once you told me “The patient dog eats the fatest bone”...Those have been my watch words since then. I miss you very much and I hate to think of you in the past tense..Grandma, you are not gone...You are walking with me every step of the way...your love surrounds me and comforts me in the midst of life’s challenges and difficulties. Your prayers and your intercessions have been the light unto my path for the past 3years; The only difference is the fact that i can no longer fondle with your braids or massage your feet .but surely, you live in my heart forever ❤️

Missing you Sweet Mother. We are so proud of you and we pray that God will give us the strength to walk in your footsteps.
Love !

I love you SweetMother! May you continue to RIP until we meet to part no more

My dear, sweet Grandmother, a whole year has passed since you left us to meet Jesus. I miss you everyday and even though you're not here physically with me, you will always be in my heart and mind.

Sweet mother, grandma
the last two years you spent with us, you made an unequaled impact on my life. every word you uttered and every deed of yours was adorned with such wisdom and grace as to leave me wondering what my life would have been without a grandmother like you. with absolute peculiarity you portrayed faith, selflessness, love, fairness, radiance, and rectitude in your way of life.
Your were above 80 and despite your health issues, you insisted on visiting me in my tiny room up the hill at Ekounou. mummy you alone could think of someone with such affection. I never spent a full weekend in my house because you will call when you didn't see me. I did nothing to deserve such love and you treated each your children and grandchildren alike.
I will never stop regretting why I didn't give you the usual phone call on that faithful day. I kept waiting to see you in person, and upon arriving the hospital, the gloom surrounding the atmosphere left me weeping. Mama it was unbearable. mummy I promised not to mourn anymore, but even when we pray at home I still weep. Your place in my heart is special. 
You nursed a spirit of love in your family; spotless and irreproachable in its very essence, one to be envied by all. Most importantly, you taught us the fear of God and exhilarated us to keep singing and praying.
I thank God for the opportunity I had to make you a happy and proud grandma. I will always love you and will keep praying for you till we meet again. God be with you mummy

SweetMother,
On this very first day of January in 2015, my life was changed forever when I got that life-altering call about your passing into glory! It felt like my heart has been shattered into tiny pieces. The pain was so deep and strange! I cried, and cried, and cried! Many assured me it will get better! Oh SweetMother, how wrong they all were! Some days I feel your absence, so overwhelming I simply become paranoid! You could never have prepared me enough for this departure! You were too wonderful, courageous, wise, loving, righteous, and kind to be true, yet you were real! I know I must not tie myself to you with tears, I should be happy and grateful that I had all those wonderful years with you. I will allow my grief to be comforted by trust, for I know it is only for awhile that we must part. I will keep our memories within my heart. I know you are not far away if I call you I know you will come. Though I cannot see or touch you, I know you are near, and if I listen with my heart, I will hear you, all of your love around so soft and dear. And then, when I must come that way alone, I will hug you, hold you tight, and with a big smile, I will say, SweetMother, I am home!
I will forever miss you till we meet to part no more!
I love you SweetMother, always have, and always will.
Manghi yo yo yo (as you famously called me).

Missing you SweetMother! Continue to RIP till we meet to part no more

Missing you SweetMother! I love you, always have, and always will.....

To the Asafor boys and girls. You are living proof of the solid upbringing Mama gave you. She will forever live in our hearts. Mama, may your soul rest in perfect peace.

Mommy Philo, your sudden departure has convinced me that you were truly prepared and ready for the Lord. Painful, but great indeed, because you had a personal encounter with God and waited for his angels. That's why you emphasized to me during my last visit to Cameroon at Pa Asafor's home that you 'will never visit us again in America', a terrible country! Mommy, I miss your sense of humor and always laugh when I think of you before realizing I am alone. You're gone but not forgotten. May your gentle soul rest in peace. May God console all your children esp Shwartz, manyi Eva,mommy Emmy and grant them the peace and courage required during this difficult time.

Sweetmother,i miss your unadulterated selfless services,kindness, blessings ,love ,concern ,sense of justice and the list goes on and on.Love you and always.

RIP MAMA

Missing you SweetMother!

Mama you were so knowledgeable however your legacy will live on for ever. May your gentle soul rest in

Mummy, I miss you, especially during my short stay back home when I came to visit you and we embraced each other. I can still feel that love of a mother within me. why so soon mummy, I was speechless, and your loss was beyond words. I and nde misses your funny jokes, mummy you were such a great mother, and will live on in our memories forever.

Mummy; I have tarried to no avail and there is no escaping from reality.Thank you for those wonderful moments we shared.When I drive home and cant find you at our corner;I skip on our bed and get a bit of you.The day you refered to me as Mummy and asked what my baby had to take for supper I felt it coming but could not prevent.What a cuorageous mother you were.When you asked me ''mummy ;have I ever complained of pain?Mummy am in pain'' The Lord inspired me to comfort you with music.As smart as you have always been you asked to brush your teeth when the Dr said I should not give you water .When you asked to take a rest I did not know it was eternal .My innocent sister stood by me waiting for the miracle and I hadnt the courage to inform her.What a way to quit from dear ones.I will keep the word.Farewell and greet me with a smile when I come and welcome me home.

This is indeed a big tragedy. Pls accept my heartfelt sympathies at this great loss. May God comfort you and your household and grant you all the fortitude to withstand the demise of mama till we meet to part no more. Peace be with you all. Rest in peace mama.

Mummy!!! I am blessed to be able to call u GrandMa. You taught me so much!! Even now, i refuse to cry because i feel your spirit with me everyday telling me "you can do it, its ok!' You gave us the greatest gift any parent can give: the fear of God and Love!! We could not have asked for anything better than that. Even now your love continues to pour on you children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Yours was the fulfilled life we all dream of. Thank you for blessing our home and giving us the chance to feel your love and get to know you. Go in Peace and i know you are reunited with Your Maker. i love u forever.
Mafue

Mummy,
The love you preached is the love you practiced toward all that came your way. The wisdom you portrayed was admired and solicited by all and sundry. Your achievements are a marvel even to pessimists. You have written your own history and you did that in indelible capital letters in the hearts of your loved ones.
I know the glory of your death. The way you left this world is a manifestation of the faith you had in the lord almighty: You left in dignity, quietly, uncomplaining and prayerfully. Unfortunately I was too naïve and busy (getting more of your medication) to understand that you were leaving.
What a lady you were, what a mum! In front of the most difficult challenges, you were serene, fearless and strong-spirited and even encouraged others to do same. You considered all to be your children and your sense of sacrifice even made me wonder whether you were human. Yes! You were a great teacher because the lessons you taught are those you lived.
How will I ever forget these last special moments?
- My x-mas 2015 birthday which you celebrated, offering me a special drink;
- The evening prayers you initiated during the 5 months you spent taking care of baby Yoni ASAFOR;
- The blessings you poured on me each time I had to travel;
- The speech you made during my traditional marriage ceremony;
- The quality time you spent with all of us home and those out of the country;
- Most of all: your unassisted walk from your room through the corridor into my car on the 1st of January 2015 when we were going to hospital for the last time.
I feel your absence and it pains. It does. How can it be otherwise when your phone doesn’t ring anymore? How can it be otherwise when I don’t know where to find you? I am deeply subverted and enfeebled. Sometimes I hear you speaking but I can’t see you.
We your children believe in God the giver of all life and that alone can comfort us. We know that you are with God and watching on our every move, helping to steer us towards the Lord. We strongly believe.

Mummy,
The love you preached is the love you practiced toward all that came your way. The wisdom you portrayed was admired and solicited by all and sundry. Your achievements are a marvel even to pessimists. You have written your own history and you did that in indelible capital letters in the hearts of your loved ones.
I know the glory of your death. The way you left this world is a manifestation of the faith you had in the lord almighty: You left in dignity, quietly, uncomplaining and prayerfully. Unfortunately I was too naïve and busy (getting more of your medication) to understand that you were leaving.
What a lady you were, what a mum! In front of the most difficult challenges, you were serene, fearless and strong-spirited and even encouraged others to do same. You considered all to be your children and your sense of sacrifice even made me wonder whether you were human. Yes! You were a great teacher because the lessons you taught are those you lived.
How will I ever forget these last special moments?
- My x-mas 2015 birthday which you celebrated, offering me a special drink;
- The evening prayers you initiated during the 5 months you spent taking care of baby Yoni ASAFOR;
- The blessings you poured on me each time I had to travel;
- The speech you made during my traditional marriage ceremony;
- The quality time you spent with all of us home and those out of the country;
- Most of all: your unassisted walk from your room through the corridor into my car on the 1st of January 2015 when we were going to hospital for the last time.
I feel your absence and it pains. It does. How can it be otherwise when your phone doesn’t ring anymore? How can it be otherwise when I don’t know where to find you? I am deeply subverted and enfeebled. Sometimes I hear you speaking but I can’t see you.
We your children believe in God the giver of all life and that alone can comfort us. We know that you are with God and watching on our every move, helping to steer us towards the Lord. We strongly believe.

Grand Ma, I am so proud to have had you as a grand mother. I thank God every day for all the time I spent with you.Even in death, you still manage to spread your love. I miss you each day that passes by. Your death changed me in some ways,that only the Almighty God can bear me witness. I cannot be just like you,but Grand Ma I will never stop trying. The house will not be the same without you. But you live on in my heart. Rest in Peace GrandMa.I love you everyday.
ZaZa

Dear Grandma, sweet memories fill my mind as i think of you. I remember the warmth of your smile, the comfort in your embrace, and the tenderness in your voice. Not a day goes by without me remembering these things. Even though you are no longer with me, i know that you will always be in my heart. I love and miss you Grandma.

Mummy, it is so difficult and painful for me to talk of you in the past . It was a blessing for us (your children) to have had you as our Mum.
Sweet mother , what an awesome mother you were- so loving, caring, entertaining,disciplined , kind,god fearing , peaceful ,sweet,courageous etc
Mum you actually broke my heart on the 1st of Jan. 2015.
 And you shameless death! why did you snatch our Mum from us ,leaving me stranded at the CNPS Hospital with the food i prepared for her?Don't you have respect for people?
   Oh sweet mother i'll miss your love , your care , your discipline , your prayers your selfless services, your advise ,your sense of justice
and above all your jokes.
  Mum i remember how your prayers and care saved my life in 2005at the St. Joseph 's hospital in Tampa Florida when i had a still birth,.You always gave me money, fabrics, shoes , food etc irrespective of the fact that i am a worker with a salary.Mum , who can do this again for meeeeeeeeeeee.
  Sweet mother , the vacum in me is too big. I feel so empty without you my dear mother.
    Sweet mother you can never die. I am consoled by the fact that you have joined a new family with God himself as the family head and your daughter and husband by your side.
  Please pass my regards to Daddy and Immaculate.
  I love you wseet mother and will forever miss you.May you send the heavenly angels to ignite our prayer lives
   Mum, you lived a fulfilled and satisfied life . Let your glory be manifested in our lives.
   Sweet mother we count on you to pray us through to salvation and let your hand become a sword to cut down any demonic trees in our lives.
    sweet mother , i love you .

The family of Asafor, accept my sympathy for the passing on of our dear mother, sister, grandmother and above all, our friend. Whatever be the case,do remember that Death and Birth are so closely linked because one is as a result of the other. Only those who are not born do not die. The grief of parting is strongly expressed only when parents are the ones burying their children. But again, when we come to understand that we carry Death along that follows us like our shadows do, there is everyreason to accept it when the hour comes to leave our physical bodies. May her soul rest in perfect peace with the Lord.

Please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of your beloved mother. May God comfort you with His peace as you mourn her passing. A sweet reunion awaits thanks to Jesus Christ. What joy! What hope! What a Savior! Blessings to you and your family from Betty Combee, Tampa, Florida (Angie's French teacher)

The Assafors and the Ngwashis , please receive here our (the Assonkens) deepest condoleances. May God bless you with a double portion of his grace and fill your heart with his peace in this difficult time.
"Rest in peace mama Philomena"

God called you to glory haven't completed your angelic work here on earth, you will surely be missed the woman with a heart of gold, you treated everyone that came your way as you would treat one of yours. rest in peace mama until the resurrection morning were we meet to part no more.

Mama I never met you but seeing my sister I have a sense of who you were in this life. I thank God for your life. RIP Mama
With love
From Emikah Steve and our boys.

Grand Ma, It was great to see you again only days before the Lord called. Spending the Christmas lunch was an honor. The memories, your positive attitude, your words of wisdom and your blessing on us and especially on your newest great grand child -Daphne- will stay with us forever. I'm sure Daphne would be blessed abundantly having had the opportunity to see you and touch you. May your soul RIP! 

Tafor

Sidonie, It was a pleasure meeting your grandmother , she looked strong and full of life. Accept my condolences. May her soul rest in perfect peace. I am praying for the entire family.

Aunty Eva and the entire Asafor family, please receive my heartfelt condolences. I have been pondering on what to say or do that might bring a little bit of comfort to you but I came back fruitless. However, I know someone bigger than I am, who can and will comfort you. His name is Jesus and He asked me to remind you to lay your burden unto Him and He will carry it for you. I pray you find comfort in Jesus's words. I pray Mama Philomena Asafor rests peacefully with Jesus

My dear big mami, filled with so much energy and enthusiasm. I wish I could see you one more time before your passing. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

I miss you big mami. The sound of your voice always brought a smile to my face. You were so strong, grounded, disciplined, smart and had impeccable memory. I am just so proud to have known you. Thank you for waiting for me to come see you and to spend christmas with you. We will miss you so much.

Sweet Mother yo yo yo!we love you so dearly, but our heavenly father loves you more. Thank you for your emmenc work and sacrifice as a mommy, a Granny and a grade granny.your work on earth is fulfilled and our heavenly Father has called you to rest by his side. We know that he will mount you with the wings of angels to watch over us. You will be missed in the flesh but you will live forever in our hearts. Thanks a million.

Mummy words can not express how I feel, I check on you a night before and was reassured you are doing wonderful. Angels were at work, on duty and touching all your love one's and I was among. Mami you made me plant a seed and departed so soon, who is going to enlighten me about the seed we planted? When I was back home, despite your health, you followed me everywhere because you wanted to be with medzang.You are a loving, caring and adoring mother. We would always love and miss you sweet mother. RIP

Eva-ans,
       Accept my deepest condolences my dear friend. It is very hard to loose a loved one not to talk of a Mother. I pray that the good Lord should give you the strength, energy and determination to move on. Mom lived a good life so it is time to celebrate her life. It is well with her soul my dear.

Adieu mama. We meet on the other side. Go ahead and prepare a place for us.

My beloved grandmother, our rock, our pillar and fortress, the foundation on which we were all built. You will live in our hearts forever. I will always love you.

Aunty..thank you so much for creating this special tribute site.
Seeing all those pictures, brought back all those memories.
Mama.. may your soul rest in peace in Heaven
Daddy

A Godly Mother

Mama Philo is an incredible mother, an epitome of motherhood. And she is a mother who deserves so much more than my meager and insufficient words can offer in this blog.

Mama, Your selfless love is irreplaceable, which makes losing you to death an incredibly painful experience. While sons and daughters of all ages carry within their hearts a dull and lasting ache where they once felt love and security, it is important we all continue searching for the happiness you always desired for us all.

The wisdom writer offers these words in Proverbs 31:28:
“Her sons rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her.”

And so do I.

We love you Mama....lifted on your Bday says it all - Heaven smiles on you!

When I won sleep, my mother go pet me,
she go lie me well well for bed,
she cover me cloth, sing me to sleep,
"sleep sleep my pikin oh."

Heartfelt condolences from the Ekosso's

How sweet a mother you were. Always smiling. Treated every kid in the neighborhood as one of yours. If my memories are not failling me; I last met with you here in the U.S. and that smile and warmth of yours were still the same. Eventhough we did not cross paths again after a long time; I will always remember the warm treatment you always accorded me in the early years when I will come looking for one of your beautiful girls. Mama, the evenings we all use to share around your fire side putting together the harvest of corn. All I am seeing and remembering is your ever smiling face and those words of wisdom you always gave me. You were a simple and down to earth woman. I know your kids are very proud of you. Thanks Mama...., adieu.

SweetMother, words cannot express the pain in my heart following your very sudden passing into glory New Year’s Day 2015! You will forever be missed! I cannot thank God enough for blessing us with a Mother as God-fearing, wonderful, sweet, hardworking, disciplined, diligent, loving, caring, kind and the list goes on and on! You taught us how to pray always, to use prayers as a “steering wheel” and not as a “spare tire”. You lived a very active and fulfilled life.

SweetMother, you had so much wisdom and humility. Your rise from grass to grace never changed who you were. You raised us to love each other unconditionally and be each other’s keeper- so even in your absence, you will be present in each of us for each other. You lived by the Golden Rule- treating others as you wanted to be treated! You were salt of the earth and light of the world!

SweetMother, your five year stay in Tampa Florida, U.S.A with my children, husband, and I, left us with precious memories that we will live to cherish! You took care of your grand-children with such love and dedication. I remember our mummy/daughter Monday morning outings at IHOP for breakfast! What about the visit to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando where it took us two hours to locate our car? Ooh...the memorable road trip from Tampa-Florida to Washington DC? How can we forget that Sunday in 2004 where we re-dedicated our lives to Christ at the Centre pointe Community Church? The Sky ride at the Bush Gardens? What about the famous “grand-ma stew” you cooked with rice? What about that talk you had with your grand-daughter about Santa Clause being "an unnecessary distraction" during Christmas season? Your grand-daughter will soon be 16 years old and she finally thinks you were right!

SweetMother, we cannot forget those agonizing days at the St Joseph's Women Hospital in Tampa, Florida when we did not know if your Daughter Joan was going to make it! What about that surprise visit from Pa.Asafor! Five of your children came visiting while you were in Florida! Whoa! They could not bear to see me enjoy all five years alone with you! The rest of your children rang my phone off the hook while you were with me...missing SweetMother! I thank God for my wonderful, loving and caring brothers and sisters! Mummy Flo, you rock!

SweetMother, I will forever be grateful to God for making it possible for me to fly over to Yaoundé and spend some quality time with you 34 days before your passing! The evening praise and worship time you initiated at Emmanuel's house! The haunting day you, Emmanuel and myself spent on Emmanuel's farm at Ahala! The sweet, fresh corn I harvested , cooked and we all ate! The chicken Emmanuel got from his poultry, roasted it and we ate! While Emmanuel and myself were busy getting the food ready you prayed continuously with your Rosary! At the end of our wonderful day together, you raised both hands up, thanked God and gave him the glory! During my brief visit, You gave me your blessings and showered me with so much love and care as you have always done. What about the back rubs after my showers! Those moments we spent sitting at the balcony “cracking egussi”! You told me to be very careful with my ankles because my shoes were too high! You anointed my feet and hands before I left the house for the airport! I wish I knew it was going to be the last time! This really hurts!

SweetMother, you prayed for your last child Emmanuel to get married before you die, he did not only get married, but also had a son you named 'Asafor' after your husband before your passing! When your sight went from bad to worse, you prayed God for another chance to see before dying, he did not only restore your sight through a miracle eye surgery, but kept you long enough after that to hold and “see” your last child’s son for about four months before your passing!

SweetMother,you attended Nkwenti’s (my cousin) wedding and gave him and the new bride your blessings four days before your passing! Sidonie, your grand-daughter and her husband Tafor brought home from Riley North Carolina your 10th great-grand child and you carried and blessed her a few days before your passing! You spent Christmas of 2014 in Akum village where you lived for most of your life, surrounded by your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and neighbors, celebrated the birthday of your last child Emmanuel in grand style!

SweetMother, one of the last things you asked for minutes before your death, was water to brush your teeth……the angels are waiting in heaven to do that for you in heavenly style! You prayed for a quick and painless death, God granted your wish on a new day in a new year! May your sweet and gentle soul rest in peace! Tell daddy and sister Immaculate (Aunty Atus) that we miss them loads!

SweetMother, your seven children, twenty-eight grandchildren, eleven great-grand children, your sister, your daughters and sons-in law, your nieces and nephews, your step-sisters and brothers, church family in Tampa Florida, friends, neighbors are left behind to morn you!

SweetMother yo, I miss you, it will never be the same, but I thank God for your life! Rest in peace. I love you, always have, and always will.
Evangeline Asafor Ngwashi....Manghi yoyoyo as you famously called me!