Edith Afor Fombad epse Tsobngy is the first girl and fifth sibling in a family of six born to Papa and Mammi Elias Fombad on that blessed day of the November 1964.It’s a girl!!!!!!You can imagine the joy on the face of Papa and Mammi Fombad Elias of blessed memory on that bright day of 8 November 1964 in Nyen-Medig, Mbengwi Cameroon when it was announced to them that their bundle of joy was a baby girl after a string of four boys. Edith grew up to become a hard working dedicated diligent lady with a unique personality that positively touched many. 


MARRIAGE (Edith Afor Fombad épse Tsobngy )

She got married in 1994 to Mr Jean Tsobngy and was blessed with two girls and one boy: Tsobgny Tako Eddy, born on 12 June 1995, Tsobgny Effie Mendonjokia born on 4 March 1999 and Tsobgny Ake Eldrin born on 17 July 2000. Although a biological mother of three she is a foster mother of many children.

QUALIFICATIONS

Edith attended and obtained her first school leaving certificate at the Presbyterian School Azire from 1970 to1977. From 1978 to 1983 she attended the Government Bilingual High School Mbengwi where she graduated with her Ordinary levels. She went on to do her Advanced Level in the same institution from 1984 to 1986. From 1986 to 1990, she studied at University of Yaounde 1 where she graduated with a BA in Modern Letters. From 1992 to 1994 she attended the Higher Teacher Training College, Ecole Normale Supérieur (ENS) in Yaoundé and graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma (DIPES 11).

Even the sky was not the limit for Edith as there was always a burning desire in her pursuit for learning and quest for knowledge, skill development and lifelong learning. Therefore, after ENS,she went on to obtain a Diploma in Stores Accounting at the National Centre for  the training of Stores Accountants in Yaoundé from 2003 to 2006. In 2006, she obtained a Certificate in Human Rights and Sustainable Development in Humanitarian action at the Catholic University of Central Africa.


PROFESSIONAL CAREER

Her working career started with teaching English literature in Lycée Bilingue d’Awae from 1994 to 1996; Lycée Bilingue d’Essos from 1996 2000, and Government Bilingual High School Etoug-Ebe from2000 – 2006. She worked as an Audit Inspector in the Ministry of  Finance in the South West Province Buea, from 2006 – 2008. She served as a Senior Staff at the Ministry of Secondary Education (DRFM) from 2008 to early 2019. In May 2019, she was appointed as a service head in the Control of Public Contracts, Department of Financial and Material Resources (DRFM), and was about to start a new phase in her career which her untimely death has cut short.


HER ATTRIBUTES AND QUALITIES

The following are some of her remarkable qualities of Mamma Edith, as she was  popularly called:

• An excellent wife who can find? Proverb 31:10, She loved her family and will do all what can humanly be done to keep them happy
• A wonderful and devoted mother and a sources of inspiration to her children
• A hard worker, a home maker and a keeper of her home 
• An excellent cook: she spent most of her time cooking and will not spare and opportunity to host and entertain family and  guests
• Very outspoken. She will not hesitate to tell you the way she felt but with no hard feelings as a minute later you will wonder if she was the one who just spoke to you
• She also enjoyed her free time and enjoyed travelling and exploring new life experiences with friends and family 
• She was very welcoming. She will not miss an opportunity to party, dance or invite friends and family over home for a meal  or to   party
• She was a strong-willed person who didn’t care what other people thought about her
• Above all, her commitment to the church and the work of the Lord was a source of inspiration to all who know her. She  was an active member  of the Christian Women fellowship  ( CWF) and the Sunday  she died was the day she was to be dedicated  as Matron  of her daughter  Effie’s choir,  The Holy Trinity Choir, Nsimeyong, Yaoundé.

WE WILL MISS HER INDEED
                     
Her sudden departure is a monumental loss to us all.

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us oh Lord to number our days so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.”

Although her life was cut far too short, during her time on earth, she touched so many people and we will all dearly miss her  

For sure her children both biological and foster will miss;

• the mum who gave her all to her family
• the one who has been a devoted mum for over 24 years
• the greatest loving mum that ever lived
• the one who has been at the centre of their life and their successes
• the security and safety of little cubs in their den enjoyed all this these years
• the ray of sunshine
• the event planner 
• the lovely gifts
• the one who was always guaranteed to be there for them in time of loss and pain
• the one who always prayed for them
• the one who always prepared and sent them food parcels.

Her church family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers will miss:

• a lady of integrity
• a good cook
• a  Biblical model of Martha, living a life of service to others
• the event/planner/ organizer
• an excellent house keeper
• a dedicated and hardworking colleague
• a trustworthy and reliable friend
• a lady who made a great impact in the church and community

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS 

Edith still had a lot to give to her family, her career, society at large and to the church. Questions abound. We do not understand it all. The things that are revealed are for men, while the ones that are hidden are for God 

Afor, Edith , Mamma Edith, Mummy, Aunty Edith, Sister Edith, Madam Tsobgny; you’ve been a great sister, mother, wife, aunt, friend, colleague, in-law. We love you and will greatly miss you.

You left without warning

• No farewell words were spoken
• No time to say goodbye
• You were gone before we knew it
• And only God knows why
• Our heart still aches in sadness
• And secret tears still flow
• What it meant to lose you
• No one will ever know

ONLY GOD KNOWS  Isaiah 55:8-9  

We all miss you but your memory will live on forever in all of our hearts.

O Death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy  victory (I Corinthians 15; 55).

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

If it were humanly possible to do everything to keep you just for one more day to tell you how much we love you and how much we appreciate you, we would have done so. However, the Lord preferred you to go quietly in your sleep with dignity and little pain. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:21)
  
May your Soul rest in perfect peace until we meet again in Eternity 


On behalf of the family 
By Professor Charles Manga Fombad
Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa
Faculty of Law
University of Pretoria