Melissa Lum Ngwene Ndip, lovingly known as Mel or Lum, passed away on September 26, 2025, at the age of 39, after a long and courageous battle with illness. Born in Dallas, Texas, Melissa’s life journey took her across the country and beyond to Cameroon, Colorado, California, China, Alabama, Costa Rica, and Texas, each place touched by her zest for life and purpose.
Melissa lived with extraordinary resilience, a love for adventure, and unwavering faith. Even through several hospitalizations, she met each day with courage, gratitude, and grace. Her steadfast spirit and humor remained, even in suffering, reminding those who loved her that joy and suffering can coexist.
Melissa’s greatest joy was her dear son, Musa Hill, for whom she loved boundlessly and was considered one of her greatest life accomplishments. Every ounce of her energy and heart was poured into nurturing and educating him. Her love for him was fierce, protective, and pure. He is a living legacy of her courage, devotion, and heart.
Melissa once wrote that she hoped to be remembered as “fair, just, orderly, and cooperative.” She was all of those things, and so much more. She was servant-hearted, generous, funny, loving, protective, patient, reliable, humble, grateful, trustworthy, determined, hardworking, resilient, encouraging, prayerful, wise, and deeply thoughtful. She was also profoundly curious and loved meaningful debates. She was unafraid to question, challenge, and engage with ideas that mattered. Her inquisitive spirit and sharp mind made her a joy to talk with and an inspiration to learn from.
Her life reflected a deep commitment to service and learning. She worked as a constituent liaison in both Texas and Kentucky, helping veterans access vital resources and support. Passionate about justice and advocacy, she pursued law studies, which she had to pause due to illness, yet her dedication to truth and fairness never faltered. She went on to work as a child advocate for disenfranchised youth and later earned a Master of Science in Law & Policy, graduating magna cum laude.
Melissa also devoted her time to various non-profit initiatives and community outreach efforts. She was a gifted writer and co-hosted a podcast called “Logic & Reasoning” with her husband, Devonte Hill, where she explored thoughtful dialogue and truth-seeking conversation. Her insight and integrity shone through everything she created and shared.
Melissa’s faith grounded her through every season of her life. She often spent Sundays with her family reading religious literature and reflecting on God’s word. In one of her notes, she shared the verse: “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” Those words now serve as both comfort and promise, a reflection of the peace she so deeply trusted.
She is survived by her cherished son, Musa Hill; her husband, Devonte Hill; her younger siblings, Ashley Ndip, Nadine Ndip-Schuna, Eukeria Oyebog, and Jude Oyebog; her beloved goddaughter, Leighton Schuna; and her parents, Geraldine and Samuel Ndip. She is also remembered by countless friends who were forever changed by her presence in their lives.
Melissa’s life was a radiant testament to love that endures, service that uplifts, and faith that sustains. Though her body rests, she is eternal in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.
A memorial service will be held to celebrate Melissa’s remarkable life and the light she shared so freely. Details will be shared with family and friends.
Services
Melissa Lum Ngwene Ndip, lovingly known as Mel or Lum, passed away on September 26, 2025, at the age of 39, after a long and courageous battle with illness. Born in Dallas, Texas, Melissa’s life journey took her across the country and beyond to Cameroon, Colorado, California, China, Alabama, Costa Rica, and Texas, each place touched by her zest for life and purpose.
Melissa lived with extraordinary resilience, a love for adventure, and unwavering faith. Even through several hospitalizations, she met each day with courage, gratitude, and grace. Her steadfast spirit and humor remained, even in suffering, reminding those who loved her that joy and suffering can coexist.
Melissa’s greatest joy was her dear son, Musa Hill, for whom she loved boundlessly and was considered one of her greatest life accomplishments. Every ounce of her energy and heart was poured into nurturing and educating him. Her love for him was fierce, protective, and pure. He is a living legacy of her courage, devotion, and heart.
Melissa once wrote that she hoped to be remembered as “fair, just, orderly, and cooperative.” She was all of those things, and so much more. She was servant-hearted, generous, funny, loving, protective, patient, reliable, humble, grateful, trustworthy, determined, hardworking, resilient, encouraging, prayerful, wise, and deeply thoughtful. She was also profoundly curious and loved meaningful debates. She was unafraid to question, challenge, and engage with ideas that mattered. Her inquisitive spirit and sharp mind made her a joy to talk with and an inspiration to learn from.
Her life reflected a deep commitment to service and learning. She worked as a constituent liaison in both Texas and Kentucky, helping veterans access vital resources and support. Passionate about justice and advocacy, she pursued law studies, which she had to pause due to illness, yet her dedication to truth and fairness never faltered. She went on to work as a child advocate for disenfranchised youth and later earned a Master of Science in Law & Policy, graduating magna cum laude.
Melissa also devoted her time to various non-profit initiatives and community outreach efforts. She was a gifted writer and co-hosted a podcast called “Logic & Reasoning” with her husband, Devonte Hill, where she explored thoughtful dialogue and truth-seeking conversation. Her insight and integrity shone through everything she created and shared.
Melissa’s faith grounded her through every season of her life. She often spent Sundays with her family reading religious literature and reflecting on God’s word. In one of her notes, she shared the verse: “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” Those words now serve as both comfort and promise, a reflection of the peace she so deeply trusted.
She is survived by her cherished son, Musa Hill; her husband, Devonte Hill; her younger siblings, Ashley Ndip, Nadine Ndip-Schuna, Eukeria Oyebog, and Jude Oyebog; her beloved goddaughter, Leighton Schuna; and her parents, Geraldine and Samuel Ndip. She is also remembered by countless friends who were forever changed by her presence in their lives.
Melissa’s life was a radiant testament to love that endures, service that uplifts, and faith that sustains. Though her body rests, she is eternal in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.
A memorial service will be held to celebrate Melissa’s remarkable life and the light she shared so freely. Details will be shared with family and friends.
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