Birth and early life

Madam Elizabeth (Betty) Abam Nmai was born in 1954 to the late Mr. Gilbert Kojo Nmai and the late Madam Comfort Afoley Tawiah Tsuru, both of the Nii Odaitei Tse We Clan of Nungua.

Education

Betty started her education at Presby School, Nungua, and studied from Primary One through Middle Standard Four, finishing in 1974.

Christian life

While at school, Betty worshipped with Zimmerman Presbyterian Church and sang tenor in its choir. After school she returned to her mother church, St. Peter's Anglican Church, Nungua, where she joined the Sidespersons and the Guild of the Good Shepherd and served faithfully as an usher. She had been baptised into the Anglican faith on 16 November 1958 by Rev. Fr. Nelson, and she was confirmed on 16 February 1975 by the Rt. Rev. I.S.M. Le Maire, Bishop of Accra.

Marriage and family

Sister Betty was blessed with five children, eighteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was a mother to every child who came near her.

Work

Betty learned trading from her mother, a prosperous trader, and went with her on her business trips. She later started her own business, selling rice and stew at the Court area, now known as Kingsway Inn. People across the township knew her food as "Betty Rice" or "Wala Rice".

Illness and death

She fell ill earlier this year. Her family hoped she would recover, but she passed away on Saturday, 27 June 2026 at the 37 Military Hospital. She leaves her loved ones heartbroken and in deep sorrow.

Sister Betty, your children and the entire family will always remember you. May your soul rest in the bosom of the Lord Almighty until we meet again on the resurrection day. Amen.

In loving memory of our dear mother, Md. Betty Abam Nmai.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." (Isaiah 49:15)

Mummy, where do we begin?

You were a good mother who loved her children deeply, and we loved you very much too. We affectionately called you Sister, Queen Elizabeth, Abam Nmai and Bethlehem. Each name carries a special memory of you.

God gave you to us as a true mother. Whenever we faced challenges, we came to you, and you listened, advised us and showed us how to handle life. You disliked quarrels and noisy places. You always encouraged peace and togetherness, and you wanted your children to live happily with one another.

Your love was not only for the children you gave birth to. You cared for other children just as you cared for us. Your heart was open to everyone.

Many also knew you as Betty Rice or Wala Rice, and people throughout the township enjoyed your food. But beyond your food was a woman who was caring and generous. You also never joked with fellowship and church. Your love for God and your support for the church taught us an important lesson.

Mummy, we never expected you to leave us this soon. While you were sick, our prayer was that you would get well, return home, and that we would all join hands to thank God together. But it was not so.

We took you to the hospital that Saturday morning thinking you would receive treatment and come back home. We never knew we were taking you to the place where we would have to say our final goodbye.

This death has broken our hearts. Yet, because we have faith in God, we will find our comfort in Him. We thank God for giving us so many years with you, even though we wished we had you for much longer.

Today, your children, grandchildren, family, friends, church family and all those who loved you have gathered to say goodbye.

Mummy, we will never forget your love. Your children, Afoley, Afotey, Aforkor and all your other children, say: sleep well, sleep well, rest in perfect peace. We love you, and we will never forget you.

It is with deep sorrow, yet with total submission to the will of Almighty God, that we, members of the St. Peter's Anglican Church, Nungua Old Ushers, pay tribute to our dear sister, colleague and fellow usher, Betty Nmai.

Sister Betty was more than a member of our guild; she was a pillar of dedication, humility and cheerful service. From the church gate to the altar, she served the Lord with a radiant smile that welcomed every worshipper. She never missed her duty post; she was always early, neatly dressed and full of grace.

We remember her for her:

1. Faithfulness to duty: ever punctual and committed to the work of God.
2. Warm fellowship: a mother, sister and friend to all of us.
3. Spirit of humility: she served without complaint, without seeking praise.

Her passing has left a vacant seat at the back pew on Sundays and an irreplaceable void in our hearts. But we take consolation in the word of God in Revelation 14:13: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord… that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them."

Sister Betty, your labour of love in the house of God will never be forgotten. You have fought a good fight, you have finished your course, you have kept the faith. To the bereaved family, we say: may the Lord comfort and strengthen you. Rest in perfect peace, Sister Betty, till we meet again at the feet of Jesus. Amen.

Odase ni tookwɛlɔi akuu yeo yɛ nyɛmi yoo Elizabeth Abam Nmai he nɛ. '……………' Nitsumɔ gbi sɛɛ efo, kɛ ada wala foi eta, ataa, ha mɛi ni etɔ amɛ naanɔ hedzɔlɛ……Amen.

Tookwɛlɔi akuu suɔlɔ nyɛmi yoo ni ka wɔhiɛ nɛɛ gbɛi ni wɔfɛɛ wɔtsɛɔ lɛ dzi Betty. Ekɛ ehe wo kuu lɛ mli beni awadze lɛ yɛ 16th February 1975. Etsu enii dzogbaŋŋ akɛ tookwɛlɔ yɛ afii akpei kome ohai neehu nyɔmnai nɛɛhu kɛ kpaanyo (1998) beni aye tookwɛlɔi gbidzurɔ gbidii yɛ Nungua lɛ, nyɛmi yoo Betty mɔdeŋ bɔɔ ha adzwere lɛ.

Nyɛmi yoo Betty Abam Nmai, fata akula shi ni damɔ shi ni ama ni hoomɔ ke hɔɔmɔ he beni asafo ma skul nɔtsamɔ ni dzi enyɔ lɛ yɛ afii akpei enyɔ kɛ etɛ (2003) lɛ mli. Akɛ ni Betty nitsumɔ dzi omɔ hoomɔ he wɔlɛ, tookwɛlɔi akuu henaa buamɔ fɛɛ ayeɔ omɔ dzogbaŋŋ kɛ miishɛɛ.

Ekɛ leebi solemɔ ni afeɔ yɛ otsi lɛ mli shwɛɛ kwraa. Emɔdeŋ bɔɔ ha kuu lɛ ke Betty ha ni esumɔ akɛ shinaa naa bulɔ yɛ asafo lɛ mli afii babaoo. Betty Abam gbɔdzɔmɔ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, ebo mɔdeŋ ebaa solemɔ bei komɛi. Yesu amanehulu nɛɛ fɛɛ ebadza ebɔlɔ lɛ yɛ solemɔ baa mli. Nyɛmi yoo Betty Abam Nmai, tookwɛlɔi akuu le mii sumɔ bo, shi obɔlɔ lɛ mii sumɔ bo dzogbaŋŋ. Nyɛ kpakpa ko miishi ebii ŋmɛnɛ.

Tookwɛlɔ kpakpa ko miishi etoi ku. Wokɛ yaafo nu miikee bo akɛ, Yehowa kɛbo ayashɛ shia shweshweeshwe…….Amen.