Zoe M. Mulbah

Ma Vonyee Zuaway had been asking for a child similar to what happened in the Bible (1 Samuel verses 18 and 19} when Hannah asked God for a child and God answered her prayer. When Vonyee Zuaway’s prayer was answered, it is reported that she said “All is well.” The shame of being childless had been removed from her. Her special name for Zoe can be translated as “It is well”. She went on to have five other children; namely John, Edward, Judith, Zaa, and Cynthia. What would become of this child, Zoe? As Zoe was born from a romantic relationship between Voyee Zuaway and J B Thomas, Zoe Pila MarthaThomas was taken to the home of J B Thomas, where her course in life would be set for better or for worse. As a child born out of wedlock, Zoe learned to be submissive to her stepmother and did everything she was asked to do. She quickly learned to cook many Liberian dishes as well as care for the home. Many people attested that as a child, Zoe was very obedient and quick to learn.She did everything she was asked to do. Before long, she knew how to cook many Liberian dishes as well as to care for the home. Although younger than her siblings, she became known as “Small Ma.” Life was not always rosy at home. Zoe Martha Thomas had several childhood adversities and often commented that those experiences made her strong. Her father encouraged her to stay in her bedroom and read books. She was sent to Bible study and she attended Bible camps during the school breaks. She excelled in her school work. At the end of every year, she always received an award from their father for her achievement. The other children living in the home became envious of Zoe. On one occasion, while asleep, some boys tied her to the bed and set her clothing on fire. She was saved by a passerby who saw the smoke and called for help to break the door down to rescue her from dying. She often thanked God for saving her. Zoe got to know God at an early age through the reading of his word. She was baptized on May 12, 1976. Her true Christian sojourn began at that point. She would later write that her favorite Bible verse was Hebrews 11:8 and her favorite hymn was Guide Me Oh Great Jehovah. When life circumstances began to trouble her, she used Romans 8:35-39 as words of comfort. Zoe was sent away to mission schools to get her out of harm’s way. The schools she attended included Mid Baptist Mission, Voka Mission, Konola Adventist Mission, Haywood Mission, and AME Zion Academy. When she was not in school, she went to cooking and sewing classes at the Central Agricultural Research Institute, where foreign instructors availed themselves to help you girls learn domestic skills. Zoe graduated high school from AME Zion Academy and enrolled at Cuttington University, where she obtained an Associate Degree in Animal Science in 1982? She carried out piggery and poultry operations while working for the Bong County Agriculture Development Project as a laboratory technician. After several years of courtship, Zoe Martha Thomas and Dr. Charles K. Mulbah were wedded on April 27, 1985, in the Epiphany Chapel at Cuttington University. The couple brought to the marriage one son and two daughters; Leo, Chasity, and Charlene. Zoe became the mother of all the children. She also nurtured the children of other family members from both sides of the family. Up to her death, these individuals, who are grown now, called her “Mama.” The year 1987 brought a crisis time in Zoe’s life while I was on assignment in the US for the Central Agricultural Institute. She was involved in a motor accident in which she sustained multiple fractures in both legs in addition to a serious eye injury. The doctors at ELWA hospital gave up on her and told her that her legs would have to be amputated. She told the doctor that he was not God and that she would walk. Upon returning from the US, I transported my wife to Phebe Hospital, where her legs were placed in casts after metal screws were attached. With faith in God, she was eventually able to walk with crutches as well as drive a vehicle. Not satisfied with her level of mobility, we sought means in 1989 to have her travel to Atlanta, Georgia to stay with a relative in order to receive medical treatment. Being an adjunct researcher for Louisiana State University assigned to Liberia at the time, I was able to sustain her in the US for some time. However, all contact was cut off during the first part of the Civil crisis in Liberia. Zoe kept her faith up despite hearing about the atrocities that were being committed in Liberia. I was eventually able to travel to the US in 1991 with the assistance of my major professor at LSU. Zoe joined me in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where we spent ten years while I worked at LSU as a Senior Researcher for Biogeochemistry Institute. Zoe’s appetite for caring was insatiable. She took in international students from all over Africa. Despite her health condition, she found time to become a Phlebotomist. She relocated to Atlanta to attend school and we shuttled between Atlanta and Baton Rouge, a seven-hour journey one way regularly. While in Atlanta, she worked as a Phlebotomist and later for IBM as a computer technician and attended nursing school in Tuskegee. She drove to and from Tuskegee and went to work at night for IBM. She later joined UPS as Computer Tech, but her work there ended in 2007 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, a diagnosis that also dashed her hopes of becoming a nurse. Prior to her illness, Zoe had agreed for me to return to Liberia to help rebuild Cuttington University. She gave me permission for two years. I ended up spending 15 years. As time went on, she saw the magnitude of the work I was involved with, so she became a partner in soliciting and transporting things for the University. She drove U Haul trucks with materials for Cuttington from Atlanta, Ga to Baltimore, Maryland for shipment to Liberia. She was a partner in every sense of the word. Another challenging moment in our life came when the quadruplets she was carrying could not go to full term for delivery because of medical complications. We accepted that as God’s will. I need not bore you with more details of her life. Those of you who interacted with this remarkable lady can vouch for her endurance, her dedication to humanity, and her love for her community. She cared for and helped many people you know. She made friends wherever she went. Before concluding, let me say this: Zoe had a forgiving heart. People who tormented her asked for forgiveness later. Zoe always told them that she had forgiven them years ago. She told some of them that if she had not experienced those hardships she could not have become the person she became in life. She also forgave many others who turned their backs on her after she had helped them. She would often ask me, Why do people treat me this way? My only answer was: “It is God’s will.” “You are an angel sent by God,” I would quip. Through all the trials and challenges of life, Zoe depended on God. She sought comfort in God’s words. She joined prayer lines for solace. Two years ago she joined the Godanoited Prayer line where she interacted with partners that gave her words of comfort. She encouraged me to join her. Both of us got solace and peace from prayers. She often hummed the song “I have no other God but You.” She also relied on Romans 8: 35-39: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. She often said, “I am too much of a burden on you.” I always replied, “It is my duty God has given me. I hope I keep doing what my charge is from God.” I will forever be grateful for the 36+ years we shared. The void will never be filled. May God Almighty receive your soul until we meet again. Rest in peace, my love.

Tributes

Zoe M. Mulbah

December 27, 1958 - January 3, 2021