November 25th means twenty eight nights and days without you, papa. Each time I go to sleep, I could only hear your voice of psalms singing in my heart. My father and my angel, I never thought I would be dedicating a tribute to you this soon. You were the light and corner stone of the family, a good shepherd and an obedient servant to the Lord. Few weeks before you went to meet the Lord, you said “Take hard my child, the Lord is calling me and I have to answer. My work on earth is finish.” Daddy, wherever you are, I will always love you. I will always sing of the songs you taught me. You have shaped my view of life, work, and many other things. If I cannot get you through the phone, I strongly believe I would get you through prayers. Even though death has separated us in the physical world, we will always be together spiritually. Let your path be made bright as angels of the Lord sing and rejoice in your coming.
Farewell Pa John
I still cannot believe I am writing a tribute to wish you farewell to a land of no return. Papa! You touched my life and that of my family in every positive way. You never seized from being there for us each time we needed you. From kumba to the United States your ways never changed. You remained that father who is always there to see your children succeed.
The moment you felt seriously ill, my heart trembled, for I know your absence will create a vacuum that can never be filled. Papa! my children, Esong and Nkengfor continue to ask for grand dad. I wish you could live forever but death is inevitable. Farewell Papa! May God give you a place among his angels in Heaven.
Nkeng Mira epse Aketebeh
Greenbelt, MD.
A tribute message to a Great Uncle (NkemAtem)
The living know they are going to die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, they are completely forgotten (Eccl.9:5). 28th of October 2016, marks the end of his great job in this world. Before this day, he was always there to give support to every person who came his way. This marks the end of his important and fruitful journey on earth. We will be missing him all days, all nights, every week, every month and every year. He gave everything he had to make us all as happy as possible. His sacrifices did not go unnoticed. His love is forever appreciated and valued more than he could imagine. All this work is not in vain, it remain marked in God’s memory.
The greatest reward in our life was to know him. Nothing in life would ever replace the love he had for my grandmother, her two children and all of us her grandchildren. In his remarkable life on earth, he held no hatred and no fear but always showed love and cheer. His impact on all of us was profound and it is very sad to realize the world and family occasions without him. He will always have a special place in our hearts.
We will miss him so much. None among us will ever forget the many days of blessings and happiness he brought us. Words are certainly inadequate to express our loss but we will always treasure the many memories he left us. We will always cherish his unending generosity, love, patience, peace, mutual respect, tolerance, selflessness and his devotion to the family and to all those around him. He is an inspiration to all of us . As much as we love and miss his presence, we are confident God must love him even more. We can’t help but shed tears now that he is gone.
May His gentle soul rest in Perfect Peace.
AWUNG Vegenie epse LEKEANDACK
Words cannot explain the shock I had on hearing the news about your sudden demise. I knew a day like this will come, but I had no idea it was only a matter of days left in your life. A day rarely goes by without me having recollections; the high blood pressure, the headaches, the pain, your 74th birthday, your sudden illness and hospitalization, and then in the twinkle of an eye you were gone like the wind, papa! My only wish was to hold you tight so the rattling of dead would not be able to steal you from us, but unfortunately dead is inevitable. Papa I owe you my entire life, whatever I am today-the credit goes to you for the love you offered me in all areas of my life from cradle. You’ve been my gentle hero and will never stop even though you lie low. You were a very caring and loving father and no amount of words can explain how unique and wonderful you were. You’ve taught me a lot of things in life and one of them was to learn to live with or without you. Today you are gone, but still in my heart forever. Wherever you are papa I know you are resting in the Lord’s Kingdom. Even though my heart is saddened for your departure, I know you are in a better place with Angels welcoming and nurturing you. May you rest in PEACE papa and may the good Lord grant you eternal rest in His kingdom, Amen.
Father-in-law, you were like no other to me. You accepted me with trust and honesty. We never met each other until after six years of nuptial blessings, but you never stop telling me and showing me how to navigate through life. You never stop calling and paying me visits even when I was leaving in foreign parts, thousands of miles away from you. You never stop whispering to me on phone, and writing letters of care and affection to me and giving me exceptional and unconditional counsel. You taught me how rewarding it is to read people’s hearts before reading their words. You made me know that you have kept me close to your heart by deciding to stay closer to me when you needed help the most and at the very critical stage of your medical condition, and you finally departed from this world in my own very hands.
Pa John, there are no better facts or even more tangible words that can better describe just how important you were to me and even when you are gone, I still feel your presence through my dreams and lasting memories of you.
Until we meet again, your place is vacant in my heart and no one can fill it. A bunch of wonderful memories sprayed with million tears in me. Kids have constantly asked me why you are missing. I wish God could have spared you a few more years.
We miss you Pa John.
