Therese Ayuk Ashu was born on September 15, 1955 at Bachuo Ntai to Emmanuel Ashu and Regina Enokpa Takang. She started her primary school at the Basel Mission School in Bachuo Ntai but later on moved to Buea where she graduated in 1966. She later on did stenographic studies in Kumba and Limbe.

 Sister Therese, as she was fondly called within the family, was a very determined person to succeed and so decided to pursue RSA Stage I and Stage II from 1974-1976. In 1979, she gained employment at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and worked at the Yaoundé Post Office for many years. In 1984, she was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and later on sent to the Foreign Service at the Cameroon Embassy in Moscow. There, she worked for more than 20 years before being recalled back in Yaoundé in 2000 where she worked until her retirement in 2006. 

Sister Therese was a very hard working, independent woman who engaged in various enterprising activities to raise money to sustain her family and to acquire earthly property. She was highly energized but in 2004 she was diagnosed with diabetes that later affected the rest of her health until her demise on September 21, 2011. 

She conducted her life in total submission to the lord. She was a very good Christian and while in Yaoundé, she worshipped at the Presbyterian Church Mvolye, before becoming a “born again” Christian. Prior to her death she worshipped in various churches as she sought medical help as well as religious healing, repentance, forgiveness and spiritual revival.

 She was a very family oriented person and worked all through her life to support the progress of members of her family from both the mother and father’s side. She was kind-hearted, generous and very friendly. Her first daughter; Isabella Ashu lives in Boston, Massachusetts - USA and her only son Eric Enow Ashu is in Moscow, Russia. She has 5 grand children, many half brothers and sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews from both families, as well as many friends in Yaoundé and abroad. She will greatly be remembered for her simplicity, hard work and care for her family and humanity.