Asunta L. Kumyangi

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”-2 Timothy 4:7

Asunta Lawrence Kumyagi was born from a humble beginning in the village of Maridi, South Sudan on August 15, 1955. Asunta is the third born followed by her twin sister Maria to their parents Lawrence Kumyangi and Cecilia Nadi. Her father Lawrence Kumyangi is from the MoroKodo and Wadi Tribe and her mother Cecilia Nadi is from the Mundu and Avukaya tribe.
Although Asunta only had a primary level of education, she was a wealth of wisdom and much respected woman. Asunta was one of her only kind. Despite her efforts to go to school, she was refused to attend school by her parents but to take care of her little siblings.
In 1971, Asunta was traditionally married to Pasquale Okok Tor; a renowned teacher from the Shilluk Tribe. They had their Holy Matrimony on August 15, 2002 in Yambio. Asunta has lived her life in several cities across South Sudan and she was loved by all her neighbors. Her light was so bright and her presence was evident to everyone who knew her. Asunta lived with her husband and children in Mboki, Source Yubu, Mupoi, Rimenze, and Yambio. She later migrated to Kampala, Uganda in 2004 after the death of her father Kumyangi. She lived in a refugee camp in Kyagwanli and later in Kampala City.
In October 2007, Asunta migrated to the United States with her family and lived in Baltimore, Maryland. She then relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina in September 2009 and attended several English classes in hopes of learning English. She also visited Fargo, North Dakota and lived with her youngest daughter Janti to assist her with babysitting.
Asunta has been the backbone of the Kumyangi family and to her children. She has been there for all her children and her siblings in joy and suffering. She has left behind 11 children, 4 boys: Chongbil, Mijok, Taban, and Peter Batal. And 7 girls: Semira, Suzana, Joyce, Natalina, Masu, Nunu, and Janti. She has also left behind 31 grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren and many yet unborn. She has left behind her siblings Fatna, twin sister Maria, Stephen, and Adigo Kumyangi
Asunta lived 67 years and only 3 weeks from her 68th birthday. She never missed church her whole life with exception to health conditions and the 2019 pandemic. Asunta loved church and dedicated her whole heart to serving God. She was committed to care for children as her service to God. She was a member of the Catholic Charismatic group in Yambio and St. Mary’s Parish in North Carolina, and a member of St. Anne and Joachim in North Dakota. She loved the word of God and always enjoyed when it is read to her. She will dearly be missed by her children, siblings, church family, South Sudanese community, and everyone who knew her.

May she rest in the precious arms of Jesus her Lord and Savior.