Shey Aloysius Ngalim Wanmanjo

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 N. 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 we 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, seven 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, 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.