We the children of late Mr S. C. Nwoye join the Cookey-Gam family, their in-laws, friends and all well wishers, in celebrating the exemplary life of our “Mama”, the late Deaconess Mabel Samuel Cookey-Gam, who answered The Lord’s heavenly call to come home, on the 16th of February 2021.
Mama’s was a life predicated on truth, honesty, integrity, divine zeal, discipline, and service and dedication to The Almighty God. Through it all, Mama kept her eyes on Jesus Christ, and her faith in His promises. She was an active disciple, and never tired of giving God the glory, or in bearing witness to His Holiness. She taught generations by her life example, wisdom and deeds, and never doubted her salvation.
She welcomed our Sister, Chiamaka Cookey-gam (née Nwoye) into her family and her wider community, when Dagogo and Chiamaka got married in 1990. Mama and Chiamaka were Mother and Daughter for 31 years; and Mama also became a steadfast mother figure for us all, Chiamaka’s sisters and brothers. She celebrated our successes, prayed with and for us through our challenges, and always had a ready word of encouragement and exhortation.
The Igbos say that when a mighty Iroko tree eventually falls, it leaves us all without the great benefit of its shade. Mama was a mighty Iroko tree during her sojourn on this earth; and her loss is a particularly great loss for everyone whose life she impacted through christian testimony, service of The Lord, ministry and a life that was a shining example to us all. We are all now bereft of the shade, which for long was our crutch.
In rememberance of Mama, we hearken to the words in 2 Timothy 4: 7-8; “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which The Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”. The verse aptly describes the great life that Mama Mabel Samuel Cookey-Gam lived to the glory of God Almighty.
May her towering strength and gentle soul, perpetually be at rest with our Lord. We pray for His continued mercies and grace on those of us that have lost our shade; and are confident in His Word, to the very end!
Mama de Mama! We miss you already. May your beautiful soul rest in the bosom of our Lord, Amen!
-The Nwoye Family (Ejimofor, Ezinma, Obumneme & Ugonwa).