Lady Bessy Lilian Uzoaku Onwuamaegbu was born to church-teacher parents, Mr. Gabriel and Mrs. Mercy Ucheakpunwa Egemonye of Uruagu, Nnewi on Wednesday, 3 October 1928. Her mother was all set to leave for the market when she went into labour. The baby girl she bore at noon was consequently named 'Uzoaku' (Road/Path to Wealth). Her personality would reflect the urgency of her emergence as she proved a brisk, purposeful person.
Bessy was the third of five children, and her siblings were Benson, Dennis, Grace and Joseph. Losing her father at the age of eight, she was sent to Agbor to live with her cousin, Mrs. Rose Udegbu, wife of an Anglican Headmaster, who would assist in raising her. One of her enduring memories from that period was learning to make ‘garri’ from scratch. That skill would prove invaluable in the deprivation of the Civil War. After two years, she returned to Nnewi on her mother’s urging, spending 1939 in her hometown. She daily walked six miles to and from the Central School, Nkwo Nnewi, and another ten miles on water-fetching trips to and from the Obiakoloma stream. The water-drawing treks, when undertaken in the moonlight, were termed 'Mmili Onwa'.
In 1940, Bessy went to live in Aba with Reverend and Mrs. U. Boyle – the Sierra-Leonian couple who built the present St Michael’s Cathedral, Aba – and from there she attended St. Monica’s College, Ogbunike. She subsequently proceeded to the Teacher Training College in Old Umuahia for three years, then worked as a teacher in Warri and Obosi. On completion of her post teacher-training bond of 4 years, Bessy got married to Moses Obumneme Onwuamaegbu, then the Principal of lheme Memorial Grammar School (IMGS) Aro-Ndizuogu, Imo State. Moses’ siblings were Isaac, Hannah, Gilbert and Jemima. Their marriage produced five children: ljem, Meto, Emeka, Chinwe and Ucheora. At the time of her death, she’d had ten grand children – Chioma, Osazuwa (d), Christine, Paul, Grace, Karen, Femi, Natachi, Obi and Kosi – and had two great-grandchildren, Nathaniel and Joshua.
With her marriage, Bessy joined the staff of IMGS as a teacher. Four years later, the couple left for the UK where she studied Catering and Dietetics while her husband obtained his Law degrees, finishing as the fourth Nigerian to earn a PHD in Law.
On their return to Nigeria, they settled in Port Harcourt. Bessy worked as an officer at the Shell Petroleum Development Company as a contract staff, and subsequently at the famous Kingsway Stores. Five years later, on the outbreak of the civil law, she and her family moved to Oba. The war stripped them of virtually all their possessions, including their properties in Port Harcourt due to the ‘Abandoned Property’ policy of Rivers State.
Facing up to the challenge of starting life afresh, Bessy and her family settled to Enugu. She manifested her entrepreneurial skills, establishing businesses in baking and retail. In 1972, her husband was appointed the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of the East Central State, which has since become the five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. In that early postwar era, Lady Onwuamaegbu took up an appointment with the East Central State Government as a health sector catering officer.
Her husband was appointed a judge of the State High Court in 1978, and in 1980 the family moved to Onitsha where he was sitting. Bessy joined the staff of General Hospital Onitsha where she worked until she retired.
Upon retirement, Bessy immersed herself in service to the church and humanity. She was after all the offspring of evangelists, raised partly in a vicarage in Aba. She worked on many church committees and projects in a leadership capacity, including the Lady Knights of the Niger Diocese – comprising the ladies of Awka, Nnewi and Enugu Ladies – which she led for several years. She was a Patroness of both St Paul's Anglican Church and St John the Apostle Church Oba.
Bessy’s generosity and philanthropy were legendary. Her donations to the church included two marble pulpits at St Paul's Oba, and Holy Trinity, Uruagu. She gave much towards the building and establishment of the new St John the Apostle Church, Oba. Encountering a widow in Oba, and learning that she and her children would shortly be rendered homeless, Bessy funded the construction of a three-bedroom house for the vulnerable family. She also routinely paid the school fees of many young people whose education was threatened by lack of means. Considered a fashion trendsetter, Bessy clothed many women around her in the latest fashions over the years. She loved to bake and from her Port Harcourt days through the Civil war, Enugu and Onitsha phases, was often sought to make wedding cakes for couples across eastern Nigeria, some of which she did gratis.
An effervescent soul, Bessy championed the rights of all in society. Although never keen on flying, her sense of adventure saw her visit various countries on different continents. She loved to drive, a passion developed in an era when few women could be found behind the wheel on Nigeria’s highways, and which she pursued well into her eighties – until prevailed upon by her children to give up. No mean feat in Onitsha.
Fiercely independent, Bessy was methodical and fastidious, remaining strong, lively and articulate to the end. She passed away after two days of illness, On 22 February 2019 – a day to the 30thanniversary of her husband’s demise. Her remains will rest beside his in the premises of St John the Apostle Church, Isu Oba, which they had both striven to establish.
Apposite to an appraisal of her life are the resonant verses of the Bible’s Book of Proverbs, chapter 31.
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value…
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy…
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come…
The imperishable lines of William Wordsworth are also apt of Lady Bessy Onwuamaegbu:
A perfect woman, nobly planned
To warn, to comfort and command
And yet a spirit still and bright
With something of angelic light.
May her valiant and serene soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.
