Mama was born Esther Nzelle Max Ebong in 1943 in the village of Nyasosso, Bakossi. She attended Elementary school in Nyasossso. Upon completing her primary education, she moved to Kumba where she completed two years of secretarial training, which gave her a solid foundation to navigate through her future studies and career.

Her exemplary skills in type writing and stenography, earned her a position with (Powercam) Sonel (Victoria) Limbe. She retained her position with Powercam for a couple of years. Her maturity, confidence and her zeal to explore avenues of educational advancement, challenging job opportunities and skills from different organizations, she the left Powercam for a position in Cameroon Bank in Victoria Limbe (Cameroon). During her tenure in Cameroon Bank, the British Government staged a beauty pageant contest with the goal to offer a full scholarship for the winner to advance studies in England. Mama Esther knew, this was the opportunity she had hoped for, she entered the pageant competition and worked very hard and won the contest and was crowned Miss British Week. This was an exciting moment in her life as well as her whole family in Nyasosso. She was very excited of what she had just accomplished and her family was extremely proud of her and hoped for the best as she travelled to England to further her education.

When she got to England, she decided to study nursing. While in nursing school, she was introduced to Joel Pendar who was living in San Francisco California. Their communication and interpersonal relationship led to Esther relocating to the USA. They got married and started their family. Mummy Esther was very ambitious. She did not allow her family to be a hindrance to her educational advancement whatsoever. With a husband and children, although very challenging, she went back to college. She enrolled at the Golden Gate University where she studied marketing and earned a Bachelor’s Degree. Her degree in Marketing gave her a job opportunity with Bank of America as an Account Analyst. Her company was impressed with her work and decided to sponsor her Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the Golden Gate University Upon graduation, she continued to work with Bank of America as a Senior Analyst. Years later, she decided corporate America was no longer for her. She quit her job with Bank of America and started her own business.

She had developed a passion for hair dressing, styling and design. She enrolled into a Cosmetology school and graduated after two years of studies as a certified Cosmetologist. She owned and operated a Hair Styling Salon for several years. She was also an excellent cook and with her business acumen, she incorporated into her Hairstyling Salon business an African Restaurant, which she named “A Taste of Africa”- in Berkeley California. “A Taste of Africa” turned out to be one of the best decisions she ever made, she told her children. The restaurant flourished beyond her wildest imagination until her retirement. Mummy Esther, loved and cared for her family and others who were around her. She was a very caring, compassionate, selfless and kindhearted woman. Mamma Esther had a fervent passion for music, singing, and dancing. She sang in her church choir, She was the life of every party, and she would dance till her feet gave out.

Her sense of style and fashion was impeccable, she absolutely enjoyed dressing up and looking a queen at all times. She had a great sense of humor and laughed a lot. Mama Esther Pendar gave birth to six children, Laura, Sam, Malong, Nkwelle, Njawa and Ekude. She is survived by 5. Njawa one of her son’s passed away over a year ago now. Mama Esther has transitioned to be in communion with her parents Max Ebong and Dora Edibe, her husband Joel Pendar and loving son Njawa. We thank God for Mama’s Life and as she transitions into the kingdom of the Lord, we pray that her spirit and her love remain with us always and in perpetuity. May Mommy Esther’s soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the Mercy of God Rest in Peace