#Opinion

TRIBUTE: Eulogy for Lordship Justice Mam Yassin Sey

Aug 27, 2024, 11:31 AM

In Delhi, India whilst attending the India Africa Conclave I received this text message from Pa Ndrow Sey.

I was taken aback and silent and wondered when and where and then saw on Facebook this from my friend as follows-

“A short tribute in honour of Justice Mary Mam Yassin Sey.”

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Mary Mam Yassin Sey was a good sister of mine.

Our 2 Paths met in 1972 when I worked at the Income Tax Department and she used to visit  a Colleague , her friend  Ms. Sarah Bola Thomas, now Mrs. Davies. 

She later on got married to  the late Mam Lie Sey ( R.I.P)whom I also considered as an elder brother .

Then after the 1994 Military Takeover, she was my Lawyer at MAYA’S CHAMBERS when I appeared before the Patricia Macauley Commission of Enquiry and I was eventually granted Clearance, thus enabling me to assume duties outside the Country.

In 2011 as fate would have it, she was assigned as the Commonwealth Judge for the Kingdom of Swaziland, now Eswatini, where I also served as Administrative Officer at the WHO Office.

It was a pleasure for me to receive Justice Mary Mam Yassin Sey and her Family in a Foreign Country, our two Families were always 

together.

When her Daughter, Anita got married in London  I was Honoured to be invited as one of the Witnesses at the Walthamstow Office .

Justice  Mary MamYassin Sey was a Dignified  , Considerate and Caring Person.

May Her Gentle Soul Rest In Perpetual Peace.

My Condolences to Her Husband,  to Her Children, Anita and Yusupha, Her Sister, Yagou, Her Brother Mr. Nicholas Williams, Her Niece, Junior, the  St. Mary’s Anglican Cathedral, Her Families, Relatives, Friends and Colleagues.

Regrets,

Ambassador Ebrima Ousmane Ndure”

This was followed by another brilliant tribute by another brother and friend Ambassador Hassan Gibril and another one by my sister and friend Mrs Amie Bensouda as follows 

“Good Morning Angels. (Gambia Angels Investment Network ( GAIN)- I am very sad to inform you of the passing of our colleague Yusupha Sey's mum on Tuesday. She was also a judge of our Supreme Court - Justice Mam Yassin Sey passing is a great loss to the legal fraternity and the country. Funeral arrangements will be announced. 

We all extend our heartfelt condolences to Yusupha Sey  a member of GAIN and the entire family.” 

Justice Mam Yassin Sey was married to our brother our dearly departed brother Mam Lie Sey and blessed with two awesome children in Anita Sey and Yusupha Sey. Mam Lie passed away on 12 March, 2000 after returning from Mecca with one of his closest friends Mbye Saho and our dearly departed Big Brother Mr Baboucarr Barrow of blessed memory. 

Upon Mam Lie’s return from Mecca in his Muslim regalia looking so divine and radiant Justice Mam Yassin said “Alhaji Mam Lie Sey - My Dear Husband - You look like an Angel “. 

She hosted a welcome reception in honour of Alhaji Mam Lie Sey , his younger brother and confidant our friend Mr Pa Ndrow Sey travelled from the USA to welcome Big Brother. A big crowd of family and friends attended the ceremony presided over by our dearest departed Godfather Alhaji Abou Wadda the Guardian Angel to The Sey Family was extremely happy to be there to as usual offered his sage advice of togetherness , tolerance and solidarity. This has always been his constant message to his family and friends especially to members of Bokka Hellat and Mbye Saho Vous at GFCC. 

As destiny would have it 24 years later Justice Mam Yassin Sey will join our brother and friend in the highest heavens of the All Merciful God - The Almighty- The Omnipotent, The Omnipresent, The Omniscient.

As summed by our Vous member Dr Hassan E B Njai to Family and Friends:-

“Sigil ko sunj sister, sunj jabarr, Mam Yassin Sey. Yanna Yaala SWT jaegal ko. Aameen Yarabb.”

 With heavy hearts, united in sorrow, but , blessed with the memory of Justice Mam Yassin Sey also in deep gratitude; we remember and celebrate the life of a truly remarkable woman—Justice Mam Yassin Sey. Her passing has left an indelible void in our hearts, but her legacy, one of immense wisdom, compassion, and justice, will continue to inspire us all.

Justice Mam Yassin Sey was a beacon of integrity and an embodiment of justice in its purest form. Born with an unwavering sense of duty and a deep commitment to the rule of law, she dedicated her life to the pursuit of justice for all. Her journey in the legal profession was marked by a relentless fight for equality, fairness, and the protection of human rights. In every role she undertook, whether as a lawyer, judge, or mentor, she carried with her a profound sense of responsibility and an unshakable belief in the power of the law to transform lives.

Her illustrious career saw her breaking barriers and setting standards that will be remembered for generations. She was not just a jurist but a pioneer—a trailblazer who paved the way for countless others to follow. Justice Sey was a symbol of strength and resilience, and her contributions to the legal field in The Gambia and beyond are immeasurable.

But beyond her professional achievements, Justice Sey was a woman of deep warmth and kindness. Those who had the privilege of knowing her personally will remember her not just for her sharp intellect and legal acumen, but for her humanity, her generosity, and her unwavering commitment to her family and friends. Her wisdom extended far beyond the courtroom; it touched the lives of everyone she encountered.

Her life was rich with love, especially for her daughter, Anita. The bond they shared was a testament to the strength of her character and the depth of her love. It is perhaps fitting, in its own poetic way, that Justice Sey spent her final moments in the company of her beloved daughter, sharing a meal, a moment of connection, before peacefully departing this world. It is a reminder to all of us of the importance of cherishing the time we have with those we love.

As we mourn her loss, let us also celebrate the incredible life she lived. Justice Sey was a woman of immense faith, a pillar of strength, and a guiding light for so many. Her legacy will continue to live on through the countless lives she touched, the judgments she delivered, and the example she set for all of us.

To her family, we extend our deepest sympathies. May you find comfort in the knowledge that she leaves behind a legacy of justice, love, and honour that will never fade. Justice Mam Yassin Sey has left us, but she will forever remain in our hearts and memories as a towering figure of justice and compassion.

May her passing to eternity be a Blessing. . 

We extend our condolences Anita and Yusupha - Pa Ndrow Sey head of the Sey Family , the Williams Family , the Legal Fraternity and to the extended family and friends-.

We pray that  her legacy will inspire to be BETTER. 

May her soul rest in eternal peace.

 

Abdoulie M Touray 

On Behalf of Boka Hellat Vous & Mbye Saho GFCC Vous.

 

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