Sheey WanManjo Aloysius Ngalim (Sheey Woo Ngang) gained his angel wings
on January 29th, 2021 at Bayhealth hospital in Dover, Delaware. Sheey
was born on September 4, 1937, at Shisong hospital in Kumbo, Cameroon.
He was the third and last child of late Papa Robert Manjo and late Mama
Catherine Yekov Manjo. He was predeceased by his brother Robert Dzekashu
Manjo and sister Rebecca Nsam Manjo. He was known for his benevolent
smile and infectious personality. Sheey was nicknamed Apollo 11 (the
first man to land on the moon) because of his speeding around Kumbo town
and its environs on his Suzuki motorcycle especially when he took off
for(to) school. Some people referred to him as teacher Apollo.
Sheey started his teaching career from an early age as an uncertified
teacher in 1956 and later attended St. Peter’s Teachers Training College
Bambui where he obtained teacher’s grade III, II and I certificate. As a
result of his love for education, in 1985, he took the London general
certificate of education (GCE O level) and was successful. He served as a
teacher with the Catholic Mission for 18years and was a civil servant
for 33 years. One of dad’s many accomplishments was being the founding
headmaster and teacher at Government School Njavnyuy in 1977. In over
five decades as a dedicated educator, he taught and mentored many
students who today serve in various walks of life. Many of his students
describe him as a true disciplinarian and hold him in high esteem. Sheey
held all his students to a standard like any dad would for his children
near and afar.
Sheey met the love of his life, Lamkiyan Mary,
from Kiyan and after dating for less than a year, they were married on
April 4, 1967. Soon after marriage, they moved to Nkar where he taught
at Catholic primary school until 1968. As a teacher, he was transferred
to many different schools. He often went alone and only came home on
weekends, so his wife did not have to move around with the children.
Sheey taught in 22 different Catholic schools (Catholic and Public). He
ended his career as the Chief of Bureau in charge of administration and
finance at the Divisional Delegation of Basic Education in Kumbo,
Cameroon. After retirement, Sheey traveled back and forth between
Cameroon and the USA. However, since 2015, he didn’t travel back to
Cameroon due to his failing health.
Sheey and his beloved wife
Mary raised seven children: Eunice B. Gwanmesia married to Francis N.
Gwanmesia, Brendaline F. Lontum married to Jack F. Lontum, Gerard A.
Manjo, Colin N. Manjo married to Marceline Y. Manjo, Jane-Frances Manjo
married to Giles Landze-deceased, Nereus M. Manjo, and Terrill M. Manjo.
Sheey WanManjo was a beloved husband, father, grandfather,
father-in-law, uncle, teacher, cousin, and friend. He was a firm, duty
conscious, frank, honest, straightforward, respectful, and truthful
gentleman. He believed in hard work and always advised us not to keep
for tomorrow what you can do today.
In 1996, he was involved in
a ghastly car accident which left him in a coma for six months. After
his miraculous recovery, he traveled to the US for therapy and returned
to work for 11more years before retiring in September of 2007. Sheey was
a very resilient man who fought a good fight. God loved him so much and
granted him almost 25 years after his accident to live here on earth
with his family and friends.
Outside of education, Sheey was a
community servant who was passionate about community building and
promoting the cultural heritage of his people. Keeping a clean
environment (sanitation) was very important to him. He always said,
“your environment determines the health status of the people.” Wherever
he taught or lived, he made sure that there was portable water, clean
toilets, and that the landscape was decorated with flowers. He always
provided buckets, cups, and handwashing basins where there was no
running water. He loved farming. As a result, at every school where he
taught, he sought assistance from the Parent-Teacher Association to
plant trees, develop a coffee plantation or grow an orchard. When he was
not serving his community or being in the classroom, he spent time
farming in his tomatoes garden, palm bush, cattle ranch, coffee farm,
planting trees and building fences, or helping mom plant crops in her
farm.
To further expand on his spirit of community development,
he spearheaded the founding of the Jem/Vekaakui Water Project to
provide clean water for his people. The project sought to bring potable
water to every household in Jem and Vekaakui quarters. Unfortunately,
his deteriorating health was detrimental to the successful completion of
the project. However, some families in Jem quarter are enjoying
portable and clean water supply today because of this initiative.
He leaves behind his beautiful wife of 53 years, six children, 12
grandchildren, one daughter-in-law, three sons-in-law (one of whom
predeceased him), a host of nieces and nephews, many adopted children(including Mami Pepper Soup),
countless friends, and buddies to cherish his memories.
He was a
great patriarch of his family. Sheey leaves treasured memories and his
physical presence will be greatly missed. May his soul and the souls of
all departed rest in perfect peace and let perpetual light shine on him.