THE GALANT EXIT OF A MATRIACH EXTRA-ORDINARY EZINNE C U CHIME
Mama, de Mama; as I fondly called you: I find it extremely difficult to put pen to paper what you mean to me! What can I say about you that has not been said? What can I write about you that has not been written? And what could I have amounted to without your footprints? If I choose to remain silent, that, I know would not suffice to appreciate you enough; so I decided to do both: to write and to remain silent because writing your tribute is like writing a continuous essay; for what I penned down about you 19 years ago is as potent as today, so I choose to re-cap!
Your glorious transition that fateful Monday morning, 6th October 2025 came to me as a sweet-sorrow! Yes, this compound word, ‘sweet-sorrow’ could be better experienced than expressed!
If not that death is inevitable, the care and love we lavishly shared, Nne anyi Asa, could have stopped the cold hand of death from snatching you from us even at age 99!
Mama, de Mama, you were the proverbial Iroko tree in the jungle that stood the test of time against all manner of harsh weather! You stood gidi-gbam! You stepped behind the line that we may proceed, that we may progress, until our roots were firmly established!
Yet, you tarried for 99 years and watched; lest we deviate; our joy, our sorrows, our all, you made yours; the great woman who opted to die that her off springs would live! That’s Ezinne C U CHIME!
Mama, de Mama; your contagious laughter and beaming smiles
till death, constituted an elegant garland of courage and faith in God: That’s Mama Ezinne C U CHIME!
Mama, de mama, you will forever be remembered by the indisputable mark of spirituality, integrity, generosity, love , honour, decency, charm, elegance , fashionista and to cap it all; an excellent Christian of the order of the Anglian Communion! That’s ASA C U.
Mama, de Mama, as we mourn your triumphant exit, we, your loved ones must not fail to celebrate and appreciate God Almighty for the gift of you to us in the first instance, because the live and the virtues you believed and lived by will ever remain the moulding blocks for building our own lives; because the candles you lit were many! In due season, which has already started, they would blossom and make a gigantic light, in Jesus mighty name! Amen! To God be all the glory!
Adieu, Ezinne C. U. Chime
Adieu, Oke Ada, John Eze-nwa’ogene!
Adieu, Nne -okwukwe
JEE NKE OMA
FROM: Lady IFY Chime Bony-Ude