Mrs Mercy Ozoemena Okeke (nee Ubah) popularly known as "Miss" and "Marce Ubah" (Marce being a coinage from her other name - Marcellina) was born to the family of Late Charles Chukwuemeka Ubah of Ire Village Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra state on the 27th of October 1943.
Her mother, late Florence Nkemdilim Ubah (nee Wilkinson) was fathered by late Mr. John Wilkinson from the West Indies and late Mrs. Sussana Nwakaego Wilkinson (nee Cole) from Ogbe Oza in Onitsha (though originally from Umorum) who later remarried to late Chief Leo Anyaegbuna in Uruaneke village, Umuoji in Anambra State.
She was given other names; "Ozoemena'" and "Umeraa" which signified prayers to God for ceasation of infant mortality that ploughed her mother before her birth. Mercy received the Sacrament of Baptism in 1954 and was confirmed at Assumption Parish Nimo in 1955 by late Arch Bishop Charles Heerey.
As the 3rd child, and the first of the two surviving children out of 8, her literate mother took her to St Anthony's Primary School Nawfia where she enlisted in Class 1 in 1951 as Enugwu-Ukwu had no co-educational School then. She completed her 7-year primary school in 1958 and pulled out with standard six certificate.
While in school, she crammed up very long passages for speech giving. As a youth, she resisted all attempts by her mum to over pamper her, but rather chose to be always close to her, and take active part in any money-yielding exercise to support her.
On the advice and support of her uncle, late Chief J.B.C. Anyaegbuna, she enrolled into Maria Regina Teacher Training College Nnewi in 1960 for a 2-year course on Teachers Grade Ill Certificate and obtained Elementary Teacher Certificate (TC II) at the end of the course in 1961.
She taught briefly at St Theresa's primary school Enugwu-Ukwu and St Anthony's Primary School Nawfia in 1962 and 1963 respectively. As her foresighted maternal uncle, Chief J.B.C. Anyaegbuna was preparing her for a special role in her family, he encouraged her to further her education, and so in 1964 she gained admission for a 2-year course at Immaculeta HETC (Higher Elementary Training College) Onitsha and became the 1st girl in Ire village to rise so high
in formal education. As a student and teacher, she cut a niche for herself in music, sports (handball, volleyball) and class control.
On successful completion of the course in 1965, she resumed teaching at St. John's Catholic School (now Obioma Primary School) Enugwu-Agidi in 1966. When Enugwu-Ukwu fell to the Nigerian Army in 1968, she fled with her parents to Adazi-Ani where they stayed till the end of the civil war in January 1970. In the middle of that year, she returned to Enugwu-Agidi and resumed her teaching as dictated by the exigencies of the period.
The name "Marce" as was she fondly called was known at virtually every corner in Enugwu-Agidi following her giant strides in education. While as a teacher in Enugwu Agidi, she was a great coach in handball and was able to raise female teams that challenged their male counterparts. Her
youthful and compelling features attracted many suitors to her family but she chose to finish a house project before marriage.
On the 25th of April 1972, slim, smart and pretty "Marce" submitted to her fellow teacher; late Hon D.N. Okeke (Nzeadi) in a marriage that was solemnized on the 2nd of September 1973 at St John's catholic church Enugwu-Agidi.
When her husband got posted to St. Michael's Secondary School (now SMMCSS) Nimo, in 1977 after his national youth senvice, she moved to Central School (St Bonaventure) Nimo on transfer.
As she rose in rank, she headed Ugwuoye Primary School Nimo for a short time in 1985 before she was appointed as an assistant Head Teacher at the big Ezira Primary School
Nimo.
In 1986, she taught at Egbengwu Primary School Nimo as an Assistant Headmistress. During that period, she enrolled into the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka for a 2-year diploma course in Education. On successful
completion of this course, she got appointed as the Headmistress of Uruegbe Primary School Nimo in 1987 her last school, where she made remarkable achievements until she retired mandatorily in 1996 after 35
years of distinguished service.
During her stay in Nimo, she led several administrative innovations which earned her special commendation and recognition by the erstwhile Headmaster of St Bonaventure late Mr Egbosionu and Sir Vincent lgboka in
1982
Today, many great men and women that she raised during her teaching career can testify of her remarkable personality and values which include impartiality and fairness.
She was a devout catholic who not only followed the reachings of the church but lived Christ-like life. She engaged in various Catholic societies and associationswhich include; Mary League, St Anthony of Padua, Catholic Women Organisation, Abu Oma Society, and as well, the Praise & Worship Ministry of Catholic Charismatic Renewal of St Anthony's Catholic Church,
Enugwu Ukwu while she lived there.
She was a very fearless and blunt personality who believed in truth, fairness, equity and uprightness. Many people who knew her were able to attest to her kind hearted nature from the way she regarded her nannies as her own children. She freely gave to the needy and
wanted all around her to be happy
Mercy had five children of which two (Beluchukwu and Ifesinachi) were lost to the cold hands of death in 1992 and 2007 respectively. Her dear husband, Hon D.N Okeke (Nzeadi) passed on to blessed memory in 2014.
In 2017, she was diagnosed of acute Lumbar
Spondylosis which she battled since then. On Dec 19,2022, she got sick and was admitted to a hospital for an unrelated ailment that led to her demise on the 29th of December 2022.
She is survived by her 3 children: Chukwunonso,
Chiedu, Amobi, and 6 grandchildren.
0 Comments