Afiong Edeke

Ms. Afiong Bassey Edeke (neé Ekpe) went home to be with our Lord on April
17, 2025. She was a deeply adored mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and
friend. Born June 15, 1953 in Edikor, Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria to Chief
Bassey Ekpe and Madame Arit Eyo.

As a girl, she was raised alongside her siblings and doted on by her beloved
aunt and uncle, Aka and Nyong Jonah Ekpe. The family moved around the
new nation of Nigeria with their father, a military police officer, and step-
mother, Eunice. As a young woman, she taught primary school in her home
village.

Afiong married and had her first child in Nigeria before emigrating as a family
to Chicago, Illinois, where she gave birth to two more children and earned an
Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Harry Truman College.
Afiong gave her life to the Lord in Chicago and was born again in the waters
of Lake Michigan. She belonged to Faith Tabernacle church in the Lakeview
neighborhood before the family moved to the Northern Virginia suburbs of
Washington, DC.

As a mother, Afiong emphasized the importance of reading and diligence in
school, volunteering at her children’s elementary school. She loved the sound
of children reading to her. She worked hard as a nurse’s aide to support her
family while instilling in them the lessons of the Christian faith.

Afiong’s greatest joy was being a grandmother. She selflessly played an
instrumental part in her grandchildren’s upbringing, while also sharing her love
of Christ with them. One of her many displays of love was exposing her grandchildren to their culture through her cooking of delicious Nigerian food, always making sure everyone was fed and full.

Her Christian faith was the unshakable cornerstone of her life. She was a long
time congregant member at National Church of God in Ft. Washington,
Maryland where she sang in the Women’s Choir. She enjoyed listening and
singing to praise and worship music, reading The Bible, and spending time
with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Juliana, sons, Gabriel and Michael, and six grandchildren: Grace, Jakara, Jeremiah, Trinity, Justice, and Israel as well as many extended family members.

Afiong was beautiful, compassionate, hard working, and a light in the darkest
room. Her beaming smile, melodic voice, and strong yet gentle spirit will be greatly missed. She found victory over death and fear long ago through her love of Jesus Christ.
Condolences may be sent to https://taylorsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/afiong-edeke