11 Feb Obit: Marie Simbo, Mother of Billy Simbo

Mrs. Marie Simbo, mother of Rev. Billy Simbo, passed away February 11, 2011, in Sierra Leone. She was 84 years old. Rev. Simbo, who concluded his transition role as bishop of Sierra Leone Conference in January, delayed his return to the States in case she passed away, knowing he would need to abruptly return. However, he decided to return to the States on February 4. He will head back to Sierra Leone for memorial services on February 25 and 27.

You can contact Billy Simbo at:

Billy K. Simbo
1822 Erlen Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
Email

Here is information which Billy sent to Global Ministries on February 11.

My mother turned 84 years old on December 26, 2010. She has lived a full and active life until she had a blood clot in her left leg on February 11, 2010. The leg became mummified and was amputated on the 18th of February. But that still did not dampen her spirits or cause her to lose faith in God’s goodness. She endured months of physical therapy and was eventually fitted with a prosthesis which she joyfully used to go to Church after a six-month absence.

The celebration of her 84th birthday was a joyous occasion both in church and at home on that Sunday. She was having congestion and cough like all of us were experiencing from the desert dust that blows in from the Sahara in November, December, and January. Two days after her birthday, Mom started complaining of severe pain in her leg and chest. Hospital visits would conclude that she had malaria and her blood pressure was elevated. They put her on medications of various kinds and gave her drips for dehydration.

Since that time she has gone through constant pain, loss of appetite and weight, and she looks depressed. I had never heard our mother complain about anything personal, so it has been hard watching her go through these days with complaints. Her constant cry has been that she would not become a burden to us and that God would take her if her time is up. As we watched and cared for her daily, we all remarked that we had never seen someone who was more ready for dying and going home to be with the Lord.

I had delayed my return to the US in case mother did pass away, knowing that I would had to turn around and go back. But when it became evident that she was not going to pass away, I decided on coming back on February 4. She took it hard when I finally told her at the beginning of last week that I would leave, and she was crying when I went to say goodbye in the afternoon of my departure (So was I!).

But we had committed her to God’s care and God’s will for her life. Our mother had lived a full life. She gave birth to 10 of us. At our last count, she had 27 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. I was in the room when they brought the latest great-grandchild (2 weeks old). She loved the Lord and she was ready to go home! We had gone over her “Life-celebration” service. The songs she wanted and the manner of the celebration.

My phone rang today at 4:30 AM with word that Mama Marie had gone home to be with the Lord Jesus whom she loved and worshiped with great devotion.

It will be a blessing to participate in that service and testimony to a life well-lived, first in Freetown on February 25 and then in her village (near Bo) on February 27.

Pray specifically for my family during the next few weeks. There is sadness amongst us children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren even though we knew it is an event that was coming.

Pray for our financial needs. Between ticket and other personal costs, we are probably looking at an out of pocket expense of $2,000 to abruptly return.

Note from Global Ministries: If you would like to contribute to either Billy Simbo’s travel costs, or make a contribution to a memorial scholarship for theological students in Sierra Leone, mark your gift and send it to our offices: Global Ministries, 302 Lake Street, Huntington, IN 46750.