Marielda Nangah

Marielda Nangah (Epse Achu Samba) passed away on December 5, 2023. Marielda was a proud member of St. Pius the X Catholic Church and a member of the Catholic Women's Association.  Many times you would find Marielda praying the Rosary and thinking of her family and loved ones.  She was a devout Catholic and she proudly served the Lord and her family. 

Nangah Marielda Tamankag was born to the late Joseph Che Tamankag and her bereaved mother Zee Martha Tawah (Mafor Tawah) on December 27, 1952, in Bamenda, Northwest Province. She is the first-born child of her mother, in a family of eight – four boys and four girls, five of whom she joins in glory land.

She is survived by her mother: Mafor Tawah; her two sisters: Priscilla Tamankag and Cecilia Tamankag; and five children: Valerie Fen Achu Samba, Ntse Achu Samba, Achu Samba, Awa Mangie Achu Samba and Zee Mafor Achu Samba, and a host of family and friends to mourn her.

She was not only blessed with children, but also blessed with eleven grandchildren: Anthony, Dante, Berit, Skylar-Marielda, Kaduch, Zeena, Wenzee, Princess Isabel, Sharmmbi, De’André (who left with her on that faithful day), Malicka; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.

She was baptized Marielda, derived from ‘Mary’, at the St Joseph’s Catholic Girl School in Mankon and later on received her confirmation in the same school. Sin adopting the Christian name ‘Mary’ she was known as Mary by most people around her. As she grew within the Christian community, while in secondary school, she helped her parents become Catholic Christians. From then hence forth, her family grew to become a very Catholic Christian family. Her father was an officer of the Cameroon battalion, who served in Nigeria, and her mother a small-scale entrepreneur and housewife. She was raised with discipline and thought to be very respectful. She was a fighter yet poise, an entrepreneur, and an unconditional lover of family and friends. She was a very supportive and an impeccable wife who ensured everyone had their basic needs. She was compassionate and very generous as she always extended a helping hand to those in need. Marielda was a spiritual warrior with great love and fear for God. Her rigid upbringing by her loving parents instilled in her the passion for activism in general, and the zeal to educate mainly children, as well as teach and advice on scripture to anyone who came around her.  Her mother also thought her how to till the soil as she enjoyed farming and gardening, where she grew crops and flowers. She loved beauty and always ensured that her home was classy and beautiful.

As a young lady she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate at the St Joseph Catholic Girls School in Big Mankon – Bamenda in 1957. She later went to the prestigious all-girls school – Our Lady of Lourds College in Mankon from 1964 to 1969 where she obtained her General Certificate of Education (GCE) at the Ordinary Level. With her love for education and not having many opportunities back in the days, after her GCE ‘O’ Level, she started teaching as a private teacher with the St Joseph Primary School in Mankon – Bamenda. She equally took classes to sit the Teacher’s training exam for Grade I teachers. With the return to Cameroon from Russia of Achu Samba Francis, they fell in love and sealed their love with a union on June 2, 1974, at the Big Mankon Cathedral in Bamenda. The couple then embarked on their life journey together first in Victoria (Limbe) where she obtained a Professional Certificate as a Grade Two teacher from the Junior Teachers Training College in Kumba. The couple later moved to Yaoundé where Marielda continued her career in education and became a government licensed teacher. She taught at various government primary schools around Yaoundé from October 1974 till 1999.

In her continuous quest for knowledge on how to be a better educator, she started working on a master’s degree program where she attained her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the College of Preceptors in London, England.

Following the obtention of her master’s degree, she was promoted to teach at the Ecole Normale d’Instituteurs in Younde, Cameroon from November 1999 – 2002.

From the classroom, she was promoted as National Pedagogic Inspector for Primary and Basic education at the Ministry of National Education, where she served with excellence until her retirement on 27 December 2012.

Growing up as a young lady, she always stood out with her brilliance, good judgement, hard work, love for community and to serve God. Marielda had also built skills as an entrepreneur where she had small scale businesses including a poultry farm, supplied local brown rice grown from the Northwest province to grocery shops and privately in Yaoundé, processed and manufactured bar soap (both for laundry and to shower) as well as body lotion. She also made snacks such as ‘chin chin’ and plantain chips which were ordered by individuals for different occasions.

She equally belonged to a few organizations which promoted religion, culture, and women empowerment. These organizations included the Catholic Women Association (CWA), Nkah Ni Kwi Mankon, MACUDA, the Mvong-Ada Catholic Maranatha Charismatic Renewal Ministry, Rovers, the Recorders Club and Lourdes Ex-Student Association (LESA). Marielda was also a very active Parishioner at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Movg-Ada in Yaoundé and held many responsibilities within the different church committees.

The Catholic Women Association is a vibrant organization for women committed to serving the church and promoting holiness amongst its members; engaging in apostolic work within the dioceses; promoting mutual love and inspiring others to follow in the example of Mary the mother of Jesus. They accomplish the works of mercy and love in communities around the world and encourage a newer generation of young Catholic women to grow in faith and love. Because of her dedication to this organization, Marielda Nangah joined the CWA at the Olezoa branch - Yaoundé in the eighties. At the time there were only two branches in Yaoundé – the Fatima and Lourdes branch which were given the special privilege to become a Zone. She was first elected the Vice zonal President of the CWA where she prepared the Zone for the first all African Regional Conference in Buea in 1989. In 1995, she was elected the President of the CWA Lourdes branch at the St Joseph Anglophone Parish Mvong Ada Yaoundé as well as occupied the position of Zonal Treasurer and later Divisional Treasurer from 1997 to 2003. From 2003 to 2007 she became Divisional President of Perpetual help within the CWA Yaoundé Archdiocese. In July 2007, at the fifth National Congress in Bafoussam, CWA Yaoundé branch was raised to the status of a diocese under a caretaker executive chaired by Marielda Nangah. In October 2007 to 2014, she was also Diocesan Adviser number one in the present date CWA Tower of Ivory Diocese. In her lifetime as active CWA member, Marielda was also invited to attend different conferences in Cameroon and around the world including attending the General Assembly for the CWA in Alington USA in 2006. She equally occupied other key roles such as a member of the Resolutions Committee. She worked very hard to ensure that there was progress and growth of the CWA in Cameroon. One of her most loved activites, being a member of the Catholic Women’s Association in Yaounde Archdiocese (CWA). To Jesus through Mary.  Marielda’s devotion and commitment to the CWA earned her a special recognition and blessings from the Holy Father - Pope Benedict XVI in 2011. 

After her retirement from public service on December 27, 2012, she devoted her time to her children and grandchildren and relocated to the United States. As a devout catholic, she equally became a parishioner to the St Pius X parish in Reynoldsburg – Ohio where she attended services till, she rested in the Lord with her grandson De’Andre Berry-Samba on December 05th 2023.  She equally regularly sent out donations to the EWTN which was the only TV channel she enjoyed watching.

Marielda was a peaceful lady, who always saw the good in everyone. Being the first-born child, she grew up to understand that she had to shoulder everyone’s burden and make sure everyone is OK. She was dedicated to everything she put her mind to, very hardworking, and loved her family till death. Marielda was very strong and fervent in her faith. She worked hard to ensure that everyone who was blessed to come around her, was treated with love, lived in unity and harmony, and had the fear of God in them. She provided advice to all the best way she knew how. Mummy was always seen as a ‘Margaret Thatcher’ amongst her peers, colleagues and even her family. Though firm, she was very sweat and just ensured that everyone who was blessed to be raised by her understood discipline, respect and hard work. A lot of people came to her for advice and mentoring which made her a very special gem. She also encouraged and invested in everyone who came around her, to love God, work hard, get an education and be independent, particularly women and girls.

Marielda had a unique voice and she loved to sing. She loved nature and enjoyed travelling. Her most blessed memories was her trip to Bethlehem in Jerusalem/Israel where she visited the birthplace of Jesus.

She was a family woman who enjoyed taking care of her children and grandchildren as well as a whole lot of other family members and friends. She was a good mentor and life coach. She was greatly loved and admired. Her tragic passing will leave a void to not only her family but a wide range of friends and loved ones.

Preceded in death: Her husband Mr. Achu Samba Francis and her grandson De’Andre Maghakewih Berry-Samba who died together with her.

Survived by her mother, two sisters, five children, ten grandchildren.  Loved by anyone that was in her presence. 

Our gratitude to everyone who has supported our family during this time: Bishop Earl K Fernandes, Father Milton Kiocha, Father Patrick Watikha, Cotner Funeral Home, Saint Pius X Church, Saint Pius X Elementary School, The Holy Cross Cemetery, St Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, St Vincent de Paul, Messiah Lutheran Church, The Way to Battle Organization, The Reynoldsburg Community and many loved ones, family, and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Pius the X Catholic Church, 1051 South Waggoner Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. 

Burial will follow her funeral mass at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 11539 National Road SW, Pataskala, Ohio 43062.

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