Shey Edwin Bime Lukong was born on 20th September 1952 to (Fai woo Ngukov) and Mama Adela Bime, all of Blessed memory, in Kimar-Sob, Jakiri-Sub Division, Northwest Region, Cameroon.
Shey Bime was married to Mami Eucharia Shee Bime. They were blessed with four boys (Rene, Elvis, Marcel and Emmanuel) and one daddy’s girl Lilian. He had five grand-kids, two of whom were living with him in the USA, Kelly and Kesey; while Katelyn, Bradley and Amolen are back in Cameroon.
As a child growing up in a polygamous peasant home, Pa Bime had two sisters: Stella and Relindis, and three brothers: Joseph, Francis (late) and Jude as direct siblings. He had many half brothers and sisters with whom they all grew and kept the family bond together. Being the second child but first son of his mother, he immediately realized and knew he would have many challenges creating a path for himself to become a man; thus education, hard work, honesty and integrity with family values became his guiding principles.
He attended Catholic Primary School Sop, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1967. Because of his brilliant performance, he got admission to the Catholic Teachers Training College in Tatum and graduated in 1972.
He gained employment with the Catholic Church as Primary School Teacher, teaching at the Catholic Primary School in Ngondzen. He will tell us of his weekend commutes by foot from Kimar to Ngondzen about 25miles every Sunday to Ngondzen and back on Fridays to be with his mother and family. Each Sunday he will meet with the School’s Headmaster Pa Nemesius Takwa in Kumbo and together they will trek to and from the school each weekend.
In 1974 he got admission into the National Police Academy in Mutengene and graduated as a police officer in 1976 when he was posted to the Central police Station in Douala. He later worked in various locations with different responsibilities around the national territory as:-
Bilingual Translator – Provincial Service of National Security NW Province Bamenda 1981-1985
Chief of Post Frontier Police Ako-Donga Mantung Divison 1985-1987
Chief of Post Special Branch Bali Sub-Division 1987-1990
Chief of Secretariat at the Special Branch Police Station Bamenda 1990-1993
In order to promote his professional career, he went back to school in Yaoundé at the Advance National Police School from 1993 to June 1994. Upon graduation from the school as a Cadette Police Inspector, he was posted to the Provincial Service of National Security for the Northwest Region in Bamenda where he served in various capacities .
He got Promoted to Senior Police Inspector and was Detached to Bafut sub-division as Chief of Special Branch of Police 1994-1997
Because of his integrity and honesty “Shey” as fondly called by his peers was elected staff Rep for Police Inspectors at the provincial level 1994-1996
He last served as Chief of Post in Central services of the Special Branch Up Station Bamenda from 1997 till when he went into forceful retirement because of his integrity, independence and honesty in January 2002.
As hardworking as he was, he never gave up and kept his faith in God alive knowing that the best was yet to come. His miraculous blessings came with his winning of the US D-V lottery that saw him migrate to the United States of America in 2003 to be later joined by his entire family he had left behind.
In 2007 he had a Severe heart attack that almost took away his life but since he had not yet finished his mission here on Earth, he survived. He worked very hard and brought over to the United States his family.
In October of 2016 Pa Bime retired in the United States and was ready to go back to Cameroon when the Anglophone crises intensified and for safety reasons he decided to remain with his family in the USA .
Pa Bime was a peaceful-loving person. He avoided groups that will create controversy or sow division. Throughout his life from Kimar to Douala, Bamenda and the USA he created and made friends where-ever he worked professionally and socially. He belonged to Nso groups that fostered peace and unity amongst Nso sons and daughters.
Before his untimely death, he was an active member with the Bui Family Union -USA belonging to the DC Chapter. In the past 5years Pa Bime will always make sure he is at every BFU USA Convention where he will meet and mingle with his kith and kin. He was Co-Chair of the Planning Committee of the BFU-USA DC Chapter overseeing the planning of the July 2020 Convention in Washington DC.
Pa Bime passed-away at the Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, Maryland the same hospital that saved him during his heart attack of 2007, on May 5th 2020 of respiratory failure due to complications from the covid19.
Pa was a very devoted and practicing Roman Catholic Christian.
Shey Edwin Bime Lukong, You Fought a Good Fight, You Kept the Faith, you did Finished the Race. You were a peaceful, humble and loving father, not only to your family but to all who met you.
May the Good Lord receive your gentle soul in His heavenly kingdom till we all shall meet to part no more. Amen
Adieu Papa Edwin Bime
