Bessie U. Nwade

Please click here to view the Live-stream of the Funeral Service for Mrs. Nwade at 11:00am on Wednesday, September 16th.

Elder Ezinne Nneoma Bessie Uloma Nwade fondly called Mummy Nwade Gburugburu and Diamond Mother by her sons, daughters, grandchildren, in-laws, close relatives and friends, was born in Ntalakwu, Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, Nigeria to the family of late Pa & Ma Nkaulo Kanu. She was the last-born child of her parents and was therefore highly favoured as is common among most Nigerian and African families.

Ezinne Bessie had a joyful childhood, filled with love, laughter and adventures. She was very intelligent, extroverted, friendly and a strong team player. These positive attributes found deeper and more purposeful expressions as she grew older into a teenager and later as a young adult. We would all recall the charge in the Holy Bible to train up a child in the way that he should go; and when he is old, in this case, she, will not depart from the way (Proverbs 22:6, KJV). By fully harnessing her high emotional intelligence and exceptional courage, Mummy Nwade Gburugburu lived a fulfilled life, building mutually beneficial and lasting relationships with multitudes of people in Nigeria, West Africa and in the later decades of her life in the United States of America, North America.      

Nneoma Bessie was an educationist. In her early childhood, she attended Methodist Central School, Umuigwu, Oboro and graduated with standard six certificate in the early ‘50s. Given her brilliant performance, she was engaged and later served as a teacher in the same school up to 1958. Subsequently, she left to further her education at the ETC Teacher’s Training at Ihie and Higher Elementary at WTC, Umuahia, Abia State. She then continued her career as an educationist teaching in such reputable schools as Methodist Practicing School, Uzuakoli, Bende LGA in Abia State, Nigeria and Fountain School, Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria. Elder Nneoma Ezinne Bessie Uloma Nwade later bagged a Degree from the University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria in the early ‘80s.

Her professional experience as an educationist, spanned over forty years. In the early part of her career she worked in some of the educational institutions mentioned above. She later established her own School, Lily-Field School, Ijesha-tedo, Lagos State, Nigeria, in the mid ‘80s. In 1996, after retirement from active service, the Grace of God ushered her to the shores of the United States of America. Being a Lady endowed with immense energy and intellectual capacity, she did not relent in applying herself towards adding value to the society in which she lived. Her activities so positively impacted the social system in the U.S. that she was progressively recognized as a U.S. Resident in 2001 and subsequently, became a Citizen of the U.S. in 2005. To the glory of God, she continued impacting on the Church and society throughout her life.

Mummy Nwade Gburugburu made immense contributions to Methodist Church Nigeria, right from childhood, since she was born a Methodist and played active roles in the Choir and Youth fellowship as she grew up. Later in life after she met and married the late Pa Thompson Enyinnaya Nwade in the early ‘60s, she continued her virtuous work, this time, within the scope of the Women’s Fellowship. She is the mother of four (4) wonderful sons and daughters, including Dr. Chinwe C. Ntekim OOW, Member BOT, MCN U.S.A. Inc and Elder Okechukwu C. Nwade and The Very Rev. (Engr.) Ifeanyichukwu C. Nwade, Synod Secretary, MCN Diocese of Abuja and Mr. Kanayo C. Nwade. All the sons and daughters of Ezinne Nneoma Bessie Uloma Nwade are happily married and blessed with wonderful sons and daughters. She is also blessed with several grandsons and granddaughters.

She has also made significant financial contributions to the development of the Methodist Church in Maryland, United States of America as well as the Archdioceses of Aba, Abuja, Lagos and Umuahia. In September 2011, she was honoured by Ndoro Diocese with the prestigious award of Ezinne and in April 2012, she was honoured by Umuahia West Diocese with the equally prestigious award of Nneoma. By God’s grace, she was again honoured by the Diocese of Umuahia West as an Elder in November 2013. Most recently, she was honoured by the Diocese of Umuahia West as Diamond Mother in November 2019.

With gratitude to God Almighty for a life well lived, Diamond Mother, Bessie U. Nwade, passed on to eternal glory on September 04, 2020, after a brief illness. She will be fondly remembered by multitudes of people globally, whose lives she positively touched in various ways. Rest in peace until we all meet to part no more (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).