Regina Emade Sone

Fondly called Mama Emade or Mama Regina, was born sometime in 1942 in Tombel, Kupe-Manenguba division of the South west Region of Cameroon.(then west Cameroon) she was the third child and second daughter of Sango Jonas Ekukole and Nyango Dora Nzole Ekukole.( all of blessed memory).

Her father, Sango Jonas Ekukole was a very personable man and well spoken… huge in stature and presence. He migrated from his native Mejelit village in the Bangem sub division to settle in Bunge-Tombel, as one of the original founders. Ma Emade’s early childhood was therefore endured in the Bunge-Tombel settlement amongst many sisters and brothers owing to the fact that her dad was a polygamist. Her core values of LOVE, KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, RESPECT & EMPATHY can be traced back to her upbringing; …the third child amongst a score of stepmoms, step brothers and sisters. Little wonders this informal education acquired during her childhood blossom and shone even brighter in her later life into her old age; immeasurable generosity and love for family.

Mama attended the Douala Vernacular School for two years as was the norm then, before moving onto Basel Mission School in Buea, where she lived with her elder brother Sango Rudolph Metuge Ekukole (late) and later to Basel Mission Girls School, Victoria. At the Basel Mission Girls school, Mama Emade excelled in academics, being the only female who was successful in the most prestigious and covetous Standard Six Exams. Her dream was to become an educationist/school teacher. She sat and passed with distinction the entrance exams into the teachers training college Enugu, Nigeria. This dream of becoming a teacher was cut short by her father who refused her from traveling to Nigeria to further her education.

Mama was then forced to return home to Bunge -Tombel to live with her parents and was subsequently handed over to marriage as was the custom then. She was blessed with two beautiful children from her first marriage to Sango Andreas Etape; Max Alobwede Etape and Grace Ntube Tange Nee Etape.

Upon the death of Sango Andreas Etape, Mama being the jewel of her time, was remarried to Sango Joseph Alun’e Sone (late) a long time admirer, with whom she bore five children; Emmanuel Ekukole Sone, Stanley Summelong Sone, Kenneth Alun’e Sone (late), Doris Nzole Ngoh nee Sone and Pamela Mbole Sone.

Mama never gave up her dream of integrating into the work and social life of her time. That burning zeal and ambition drove her to Kumba, a booming commercial center in those days where she found a job as a cashier with the prestigious Indian owned ICC super market. Worthy to note that, the position of cashier back then was reserved only for the smart, intelligent, hardworking and the trust worthy. As could be said of any business, ICC eventually went out of business and mama returned home as a full time house wife.

Mama was a devout Christian, baptized in the Basel mission, now Presbyterian Church in Cameroon. She was a pioneer chorister with BAPRESCA, a choir group of the Presbyterian Church that sings principally in the ‘Akosse’ dialect. She was equally a patroness of the ‘Eyemban na bwam’ choir of the Presbyterian church of kumba town.

She dedicated her entire life in giving her children the best education. Knowing the importance of a solid education, she spared no effort to sponsor her children in prestigious schools like CPC Bali and PSS Kumba. A return for this investment could be seen in her children today.

From 2005, Ma Emade has been frequently visiting the children in the USA and at some point spent years living as a permanent resident of the USA and later became a citizen of the United States of America. While visiting Kumba-Cameroon in 2024, mama took ill. She was immediately dispatched back to the USA on May 04, 2024. She was sick for about15 months, in and out of the hospital, before giving up the ghost on August 06, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio in the presence of her last child, Pamela.

Mama leaves behind 6 surviving children, 18 grand children and three great grandchildren to mourn her. Her 5 surviving sisters; sister Bertha Etude, Ma Mary Kayem, Auntie Maggie, auntie Ngosso and auntie Dione, will sorely and dearly miss her.

‘May the winds of love blow softly into your ears Mama….

We love and miss you and wish that you were here.

Deep in our hearts, your life is kept to love and cherish, not forget.

No more tomorrows we can share but yesterday are always there.’

A visitation will be held at Schoedinger Norris Grove City, located at 4242 Hoover Road, Grove City, OH 43123, on October 11, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Following the visitation, a funeral service will take place at the same location from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm on October 11, 2025.