Beatrice Ayebea Mante (Née Asamoah) 82 Burial Service and Funeral 22 Aug. 2026, T.Cribbs & Sons Funeral Home, New Nsawam nd 1944 - 2026 3 4 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 38 -39 (NIV) OFFICIATING CLERGY Rev. Ferguson S.N. Kcofie Faith Reformed Baptist Church, Weija Service Leader - Pastor Andy Ampomah Noble Christian Community Church, Prampram CHOIR African Youth Choir Order of Service Pre-Burial & Burial Service 1. Prelude / Laying in state 2. Salutation..............................................................................................Andy Ampomah 3. Opening Prayer.....................................................................Rev. Ferguson S.N. Kcofie 4. Hymn ....... ................................. Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven 5. 1st Scripture Reading: Daniel 12:1-7 ...................... Rev. Gideon Odartey Lamptey 6. 2nd Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 ..........Mrs. Gifty Kwakoa Afari 7. Hymn................................................. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah 8. Biography & Tributes Biography & Tribute By Family Tribute By Children Tribute By In-laws Tribute By Grandchildren 5 9. Pastoral Prayer/Prayer for The Family ............................. Rev. Ferguson S.N Kcofie 10. Offertory......................................................................African Youth Choir 11. Sermon........ ......................................................Rev. Ferguson S.N. Kcofie 12. Closing Hymn................................................Pleasant Are Thy Courts Above 13. Benediction ....................................................... ...Rev Ferguson S.N. Kcofie 14. Recessional Hymn..............................................................Abide With Me Full Text of Hymns on pages 56 to 58 6 B i og r a p hy o f M r s B e a t r i c e Ayeb e a M a n t e ( N é e A s a m o a h ) Beatrice Ayebea Mante, whose mortal remains lie before us today, was born on Saturday, 23rd September 1944, at Mampong Akuapem in the Gold Coast to Opanyin Alfred Kwaku Asamoah Tetteh of Akyepere Kotoku, Mampong Akuapem, and Obeapanyin Juliana Abena Kwaakoa Aboagye of Kubaase Akremedee, Larteh Akuapim, all of blessed memory. She was the fifth of eight children born to her parents. Aunty B, or Aunty Ayebea, as we popularly called her, started her elementary education at Mampong Presbyterian Primary School in 1953 and continued to Mampong Girls Middle School, the same premises that is currently The Presbyterian Senior High School, Mampong Akuapim At the age of 12, she was baptized into the Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast on 4th March 1956 at Mangoase, in the Akuapim North District, by the late Rev. Edward Ohemeng, who at the time also served as Eastern Regional Treasurer of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC). Her family lived at the farming settlement of Dedewa, near Asarekrom and Betemano, where her father owned farmland. Young Beatrice Ayebea and sister Akosua Brepo 7 Ayebea was raised by her aunt Aku Salome, who was a popular Dutch Wax trader in Mampong Akuapim at the time. After Mama Aku’s demise, Aunty B had to move to La (Labadi) to live with her uncle Wofa Amon, where she continued her middle school education. She completed her middle school education in 1963, after which she was placed under apprenticeship training as a seamstress, which she completed. After her apprenticeship, Ayebea worked as a seamstress for some years in and around Osu and Labadi, specializing mainly in women’s wear. In her pursuit to expand her career, she later became an Office Clerk for Grant Electricals, which was located on the Ring Road Central at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra. At the time, she lived briefly with her cousin, Lawyer Ohene Ampofo, at his Nima residence, right behind former President Akufo-Addo’s residence. Grant Electricals was a well-known landmark for electrical goods and contracting services, long before the area was redeveloped It was while working at Grant Electricals that she met her husband, the late Rev. Emmanuel Anti Mante, who was then a young Refrigeration Mechanic at Tema but hailed from Awukugua and Tutu Akuapem. Auntie B and E. A. Mante married in 1967. Together they were blessed with six children - Asamoah, Yeboah, Ofosua, Mante, Owura Awuku, and Anima. They unfortunately lost their son, Inspector Bismark Yeboah in 2007. Rev. E. A. Mante and Mrs Beatrice Ayebea Mante as a young couple Ayebea worked hard to support her family, working various jobs in addition to her core vocation as a seamstress. She traded in all sorts of wares, was a fishmonger at some point, a chambermaid at Avenida Hotel in Adabraka, and a waitress at Ambassador Hotel (now Mövenpick Hotel), among others. Sometime in 2005, Ayebea travelled to Britain to visit her daughter Ofosua and son Yaw Mante, spending time supporting the care of her new grandson. She was selfless, not just in supporting her children, but her extended family, friends, and neighbors. 8 Auntie B, as we affectionately called her, was a people’s friend and related well with family, friends, and neighbours. She was humble, kind, and peace-loving. She took her last breath on 29th June after a short illness. She is survived by 5 children, 17 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. Mama Ama Ayebea, Awurade na onim nea ɔ y ɛ , ɔ no ara nso na ɔ te nea ɔ y ɛ ase. Da yiye. Awurade mfa wo kra nsie. Right now I’m in a different place And though we seem apart I’m closer than I ever was, I’m there inside your heart. I’m with you when you greet each day And while the sun shines bright I’m there to share the sunsets, too I’m with you every night. I’m with you when the times are good To share a laugh or two, And if a tear should start to fall I’ll still be there for you. And when that day arrives That we no longer are apart, I’ll smile and hold you close to me, Forever in my heart. By Melissa Fox-Austin In a Different Place 9 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7 The grief of losing our sister is unbearable. She was the one who remembers our humble beginnings and the keeper of our shared story. She was the warm hearth every one of us returned to, and the gentle thread that held all of us together as one. Today, with only three of us left, the silence Ayebea leaves behind is one that words can barely reach. From childhood, Ayebea received each of us with the same warmth and natural kindness. She remembered every single line of who we are, where we came from, what bound us together, the joys and small mischiefs of our early years, and the promises we made to always hold one another’s back. She carried our history the way a mother carries a child, carefully, faithfully, never letting it fall. As long as she was here, none of us was ever truly alone, because she remembered us into belonging. Tribute from siblings (Obaapanyin Akosua Brepo Asamoah, Nana Atta Opisaw Siaw, and Opanyin Tawiah Aboagye Asamoah) Ayebea’s sister Akosua Brepo, a.k.a Auntie Rose She was the best of hosts. To enter her home was to be made safe, welcomed, and cared for without ever having to ask. And even when we were apart, she reached for us, out of love and care, to check on our health, a word of encouragement for our career and family, and about our children. She took a genuine interest in every life around her, and she gave her counsel freely and wisely, shaping our careers, steering us through hard seasons, and molding the talents and character of our children for the good of the whole family. Each other’s family was her family as well, and you’ll never know the difference. That’s how unifying she was. And she never spoke ill of any of us. In a family, that is a rare and holy thing. She defended our name, supported our causes, and kept the brotherhood of her siblings alive and vibrant with joy, always finding the occasion to bring us together, always happiest when the family was one. For that gift of unity, dear sister, we say thank you. We have indeed lost a treasure. 10 Above all, she was a woman of faith. She loved to sing those Presbyterian hymns, rising from her like a steady flame. In her singing we heard what she truly was, a soul anchored in God, certain of His goodness, hopeful of His promises, convinced that with the maker of all things nothing is impossible. She urged us continuously to hold steadfast and to serve our Creator, and she lived that faith so beautifully that her whole life became a sermon we would want to follow. She loved learning too, and never stopped teaching herself, us, and everyone she loved, with a mind so knowledgeable and a spirit so hardworking that we learned simply by being near her. Akosua Brepo, your friend, your sister, says, “I miss you. You are irreplaceable. Your conversation and your laughter were so full of life that I could never resist them. Now I have no friend left to talk with so dearly, no one to keep my heart happy the way you did. Thank you for your love, for your care, for always holding me up. You were the dearest sister I have ever known in my entire life. Thank you, until we meet again in the bosom of Abraham.” Tawiah says, “Dear sister, words cannot carry the weight of my gratitude. You supported me tirelessly and gave everything you had to make me the man I am today. Thank you.” Atta says, “Thank you for your life and your love. I am forever grateful. Till we all meet again in the bosom of Abraham.” Tawiah (L) and Ani (R) Deceased at Ayebea’s 80 birthday th Sleep well now, our beloved Ayebea. You fought a good fight, you finished your course, and you kept the faith. Go and rest in the arms of the Saviour and keep a place for us at the table, as you always did, for one day, in the bosom of Abraham, this family will be full again. Until that day, you will live in every song we sing, every story we tell, and every act of love we show to one another because you first taught us how. Da yie, our dear sister. Onyame nfa wo nsie. Rest peacefully. You are, and will forever remain, deeply loved and dearly missed. 11 Akosua Brepo Asamoah, Mrs. Cynthia Lamptey, and Ayebea Opanyin Ani Asamoah (Deceased) Opanyin Tawiah Aboagye 12 It was beautiful as long as it lasted, the journey of my life. I have no regrets whatsoever save the pain I’ll leave behind. Those dear hearts who love and care And the strings pulling at the heart and soul. The strong arms that held me up When my own strength let me down. At every turning of my life I came across good friends, Friends who stood by me Even when time raced by me. Farewell, farewell, my friend. I smile and bid you goodbye. No, shed no tears for I need them not. All I need is your smile. If you feel sad do think of me for that’s what I’ll like. When you live in the hearts of those you love, remember then, You never die. By Rabindranath Tagore The Journey of My Life 13 Tribute by Children Mama! We call her Ayebea the Great for her incredible memory of events. The fighter for the family. She held on strongly to her beliefs and values. She stood firm even when others backed down. Once when Dada was out at sea, and we fell behind in rent payments for over a year, and we received an eviction notice from our landlord. But typical of Mama, she challenged the eviction at Rent Control. On the day of the hearing, her arguments were simple: she said she wasn’t the tenant and that Dada was, and that when he returned from sea, he paid all rent in full, including all arrears. The officer asked the landlord, “Is that true?” He said yes, and the case was dismissed. That taught us the first lessons in standing up for what is right, even when it is uncomfortable. Mama was brutally strict, yet she demonstrated so much love and affection. You better not go against her instructions. 14 Mama will not spare the rod and will apply the strictest discipline when we dared to go wayward. As the disciplinarian she was, especially since our father was away for work most of the time, we couldn’t have had a better mother. Mama was very industrious. She would support you in anything you wanted to achieve in life. Our memory of her is how she went to great lengths to get what she wanted for us, her children. Mama knew us as individuals. When the milk in the fridge finishes earlier than planned, she knows which child did it. When meat is missing in a soup, she knows which child is responsible. Our mother treated us equally and fairly. None of us can say we are Mama’s favourite child because she had none. All of us were treated as equals. Stephen Anti, Ayebea and Mrs Doris Lamptey Ayebea trained as a seamstress, but she was always doing something else - fishmonger, iced water seller, key soap seller, bread seller, adi ɛ y ɛ , cocoa farmer; all just to put food on the table and pay our school fees. When we ran into financial difficulties, Mama wouldn’t let it be obvious. She would carry her sewing machine and take a walk from Osu through communities in La, Labone, Nyaniba, Kaa-Dzaanor, and Ako Adjei, making alterations to earn some money to feed her family. Mama worked as a shop assistant at an electrical shop at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, where she met our late father, Rev. Emmanuel Anti Mante. She also worked as an assistant cook and chambermaid at Avenida Hotel in Adabraka. Those moments she took me there were fun because I got to eat a lot of delicacies. She taught me how to cook Ronny Rice, which is basically frying your spaghetti with onion before adding your rice. This gives you brown spaghetti in your rice. 15 16 Although we like to say Mama was a housewife, she really didn’t stay home waiting for good things to happen. She got up and did everything she could to keep her family together. These were life lessons of resilience that we were fortunate to learn from her. She taught us not to cave in to the pressures of life and to rise above any challenges we faced each time. In our home, Mama never stopped reminding us that we came from a long-held tradition of scholars. She constantly spoke about her father (our grandfather), Alfred Asamoah Tetteh, who Mama said was “Krakyeni” - a scholar. She proudly spoke about grandpa’s exploits at Fourah Bay College (now the University of Sierra Leone) and that of Mama Aku Salomey (the aunt who raised her), whom she told us went to Wesley College, Ibadan. She always spoke fondly of several uncles and aunts who went to prestigious colleges. She took us to visit her cousins Prof. Atta Ampofo at his home in Cantonments, Ohene Ampofo, and Dr. Oku Ampofo at their homes in Nima. Not them alone - she made sure we knew and had relationships with our cousins, uncles, and aunts, who were doing great in their various fields. We cannot list all of them, but Ayebea drilled into our heads that we were descendants of intelligent intellectuals, some who were professors and heads of various agencies. That is the legacy she wanted us to remember always. Mama didn’t just teach us about our heritage; she ensured that we were educated. She paid our fees, no matter what. Sometimes she sold some of her expensive Dutch Waxes just so that we would remain in school when our father was away at sea. Mama took action no matter the barriers that confronted us. She also taught us to recognize Christ as the centerpiece of our lives and to acknowledge our human limitations, at which point she directed us to prayer. We remember those monthly all-night sessions at Suhum which we had to endure because that was how Mama would like to spend every last Friday of the month. While she would go to every length to ensure her children were well educated, she drilled into us the belief that prayer breaks barriers. Mama had foresight and invested in who we are today. For that, we are extremely grateful. All you needed as a child of Mama was to do well just a little bit, and she would go to any extent to get you into any school of your choice. Mama seems to know someone for anything we needed. She was not the easy type, but the wisdom we received by spending time with her is immense. 17 Ayebea told us that it was her grandfather who brought the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to Mampong Akuapim. This emphasized her deep roots in Christianity, which she never departed from until her last breath. But to be honest, Mama was not someone to joke with when it came to matters of her family; she came across as a laid-back person who doesn’t talk much, but until you touch her family, you’ll be shocked to find out that she wasn’t quiet at all. She is a unique person to her family and to us at large, because she has a solution to every problem. Mama was a fantastic wife. She trained us without our father around often. Although our dad was always away for work, our upbringing did not reflect his absence. Mama always played the role of Dad and Mum, and for that we are grateful. Mama told us not to cry when she dies. She knew time was up, and she intentionally spent quality time with us, telling us about her family’s history and what we should do when that day comes. We least expected that day to come so soon. In her final days, she faced death bravely, and even joked about it. Ayebea the Great. We will miss you with fondness. Mama we are missing you already. Till we meet again in the Presence of our Saviour, rest well Mama. Rest In Peace Mama. Nyame nfa wo kra nsie na ɔ mbo wo ho ban t. Mama, as I affectionately called her, was warm, loving, selfless, kind, sweet, generous, and so cool. Her sense of humour was on another level. There was no dull moment with her at all. Mama had a heart of gold; she was hospitable to all, which filtered down to me as her daughter (Doris’s best Friend). Sister Josephine, as she affectionately called me (with emphasis on the “Jo se phine”), she treated me like her own daughter, always making me feel safe and warm around her. Her gentle laugh and wise words will stay in my heart forever. She was a great person, a teacher, who loved all her children equally. Oh Mama, I will remember the wonderful moments we shared, giving me history lessons of notable moments in Ghana’s history, the meaning of songs and how they came about, and how to sing them correctly. Tribute from a found daughter Mrs. Josephine Secker, London. There was this particular occasion when I was still single, and Mama was on holiday in UK. In her Daughter Doris’s house, there was this guy who was interested in me and trying very hard to make moves to make me know his intentions. Mama saw the guy’s actions and noticed I wasn’t giving him a chance at all, so Mama, being as smart as she was, asked me why I wasn’t giving the guy attention, and I said, “Mama, I don’t have any feelings for him “menni atenka biaa ma no.” Oh my God, Mama straight away corrected me, “Never use that word for a human being again, say it this way “mani nje neho.” We both started laughing so loud; oh Mama, I will never forget that moment. When I visited Ghana last year with my husband after a long time in the UK last year with my husband, (Mama didn’t know I was in Ghana on holiday), she welcomed us into her home a oyera no, wa ba fie,” meaning “my lost child is back home.” We danced and sang thanksgiving songs to God for making it possible for us to see each other again. Each time she would pause in the middle of history lessons as usual and say “meba Joseph a oyera no, wa ba fie.” Little did I know it would be the last time I would have such wonderful moments with Mama. and cheered us up with singing and repeated several times “Meba Josesph 18 Mrs Josephine Secker and Ayebea Oh, Mama, you had a great sense of humour and a pleasant smile. I will always remember your Presby songs of thanksgiving to God for every sentence, oh, and your dancing moves even in your old age. You are treasured in our hearts, Mama, you left a beautiful memory and your love for me lives on through all your Children and especially my best Friend who is now my Sister, Doris. I know heaven is rejoicing as you have joined the host of angels in singing hallelujah to the Lamb of God. Until we meet again at the feet of Jesus, Rest in peace, Mama. Remember Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay. Remember me when no more day by day You tell me of our future that you plann'd: Only remember me; you understand It will be late to counsel then or pray. Yet if you should forget me for a while And afterwards remember, do not grieve: For if the darkness and corruption leave A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, Better by far you should forget and smile Than that you should remember and be sad. Remember By Christina Rossetti 19 Children 20 Samuel Ignatius Kwame Asamoah Mrs. Doris Ofosua Lamptey. Stephen Mante Anti Enoch Awuku Anti