Biography of
Late Honorable Dr. Mrs. Rachel Celestine Epoupa Lyonga
Born on May 20th 1948 in Congo, Brazaville and shortly thereafter relocated back to Bonaberi, Douala with her parents, the Late Honorable Dr. Mrs. Rachel Celestine Epoupa Lyonga was the only child of Mama Martha Ndondoki of Bona Ndumbe, Douala and Pa Felix Mbimbe Mikano of Bona Bile, Bimbia.
She grew up as a pretty young girl in Akwa and Bonaberi, Douala after the return of her parents back to Cameroon from Congo, Brazaville where her dad was working at the time. She completed her primary education in Akwa/Douala and later went to Saker Baptist College, Victoria where she obtained her GCE “O” levels before going on to complete her “A” Levels thereafter. From there, she attended the West Cameroon Clerical Training Center, Buea where she obtained her Pitman’s Typewriting Stages II (Intermediate) & III (Advanced) Certifications, Advanced French Pitman’s and Shorthand (120 wpm) Certifications.
Her family background and her love in linguistics propelled her forward in her bilingual education and career. She became a Bilingual Secretary Typist at the Department of Water and Power at the Ministry of Mines and Power, Limbe.
She married an eloquent, handsome, boisterous Executive Accountant at the Treasury Department, Mr. Robert Captain Lyonga in 1968 who now survives her as her widower. Their union was blessed in 1969 with the birth of their first daughter, Dolly Efeti Lyonga-Lambe now married to Mr. Shelly Molua Lambe with two grandsons; Robert-Captain Dina Lambe (19yrs) and Shelly Molua Lambe Jr. “CHOCO” (11yrs) living in the U.S.A. In 1994, her family was again blessed with the arrival of their second daughter, Nathalie Ndedi Lyonga currently a student at the University of Buea.
Mrs. R.C. Lyonga was among the workers of the Ministry of Mines and Power who were absorbed by SNEC in September 1981. At SNCE, she held different positions and capacities until she joined her recently appointed husband to the Cameroon Foreign Service in Washington DC, USA after her study leave was granted.
While in the United States of America, she enrolled at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) until her husband was again relocated to the Foreign Service Mission in Ottawa, Canada to serve under the current Prime Minister, Dr. Yang Philemon. In Canada, Mrs. Lyonga pursued and graduated from the Toronto School of Business Administration with a Degree in Business Administration and a Diploma in Computer programming.
Upon their return back home to Cameroon in 1992, she was re-instated in SNCE and held different responsibilities including Chief of Service, Personnel of Legal Matters for South West Province until her retirement.
For her continuous community and humanitarian services, Mami “Buy’am Sell’am” as she was popularly known was recognized by the State and awarded the KNIGHT of the CAMEROON ORDER of MERIT. In November 2010, she was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Thomas A Becket Institute and University of Canterbury, England in Political Administration and Humanitarian Works.
Her Political involvement and career dates back to 1971 as WCNU Branch President for many years before becoming WCPDM Sub-Section President and twice elected WCPDM Section President of Fako 1, a position now vacant as a result of her transition unto glory. She was elected Municipal Councilor of the defunct Limbe Urban Council (2002-2007) where she served as Chair-woman of the Finance Committee. In 2007, she was elected Member of Parliament on the CPDM ticket for the Fako East Constituency, the very seat her candidature was maintained for the September 30th 2013 elections where she would have experienced her second mandate at the National Assembly.
All through her life, she was an ardent Presbyterian Church Christian and Chorister of the Presbyterian Church, Kumba Town English Choir and the SANKEY and CHORAL Choir Association, Newtown – Limbe.
Her willingness and pleasure in helping people and her community, her devotion to the less advantaged, her willingness and ability to share, her humility and her quest for equal opportunity of all made her a mother-figure, sister, friend, aunty and role model to a plethora of people. In the same light, these also propelled her towards multiple services and involvements in a variety of social and church groups.
She was Founder and President of the Association of Widows & Single Mothers, Limbe; President of Southwest Sisters Association, Limbe; Treasurer of Soroptimist International, Limbe Chapter; President of SNEC Women’s Association, Limbe; Treasurer of Ngon’Isu (Bimbia Girls Meeting) Limbe; Congregational Treasurer of Presbyterian Church, Cameroon (Newtown, Limbe) and many other Groups and affiliations too many to list.
Hon. Dr. Mrs. Lyonga died after suffering an acute heart attack on Sunday, August 11 2013 in the morning at the Regional Hospital, Limbe before medical intervention could be administered. She leaves behind her husband, best friend and life’s partner of 46 years, two beautiful daughters, two handsome grandsons and a Son-in-Law, a half-sister, lots of nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and a host of other family members, political and social friends to mourn her passing.
She is preceded in death by her beloved Mother, Father, half-brother, many Aunties, Uncles and other family members and friends.
She will be greatly missed by all her family (immediate and extended) and all those she touched and impacted their lives one way or another. We will forever feel the lack of her physical presence and proximity but she will forever remain in our hearts as a Wife, Mother, Grandma, Aunty, Sister and Friend.
May her soul find rest in peace in the LORD,
May Peace be still and may her LEGACY live forever,
Adieu Mom, we miss you now and always will,
You will forever be in our hearts and be a part of who we are,
We will always LOVE YOU.
Dolly Efeti Lyonga-Lambe and Nathalie Ndedi Lyonga, (Daughters)
(On behalf of our entire LYONGA family)
