'Making her place in our history': Sayreville councilwoman remembered for service, faith

SAYREVILLE – Eunice Dwumfour was a trailblazer with unique style.

"Eunice broke through that glass ceiling. She confidently, with class and dignity walked proudly to her seat on the dais in her signature, sparkling high heels," said Sayreville Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick at a memorial service for Dwumfour Wednesday evening at Epic Church International.

Dwumfour, 30, a Republican elected to the Borough Council in 2021 as the first Black woman voted into public office in Sayreville, was shot and killed last week in what Gov. Phil Murphy has called "a shocking, awful event."

"She forever was defining herself and making her place in our history, Sayreville's history, in our state's history, in our country's history and in the world," Kilpatrick said, adding the councilwoman was dedicated to service in both her personal and professional life.

Dwumfour's family, friends and local and state leaders from both sides of the aisle were among several hundred people who turned out for the service that Pastor John Wagner said was to "celebrate her precious life," while borough police were stationed in and outside the church during the 90-minute remembrance.

Dwumfour was found dead in her vehicle with several gunshot wounds by Sayreville police officers who went to Samuel Circle off Ernston Road in the Parlin section after receiving a 911 call at 7:22 p.m. Feb. 1 of gunshots fired, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone.

The location was near her home on Pointe of Woods Drive in the Camelot at La Mer community near the Garden State Parkway.

Eunice Dwumfour:Sayreville councilwoman's life 'embodied the American Dream'

Numerous residents who lived in Dwumfour’s complex reported hearing the barrage of shots and an ensuing car crash.

Law enforcement officials have been extremely tight-lipped about the case. No suspects or motive for the killing have been announced, and no arrests have been made. No press conference has been held.

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"Everyone is grieving and mourning for this loss of life, senseless loss of life," said Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, adding she doesn't want the family to forget the impact Dwumfour had.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said when a tragedy happens to someone so young, whose life is so full and promising, it awakens a profound sense of grief and loss.

"We're heartbroken by the lifetime of opportunities that Eunice had in front of her that she will never get to experience because her life was cut short too fast,” Coughlin said. “We're left with an emptiness that she won't be here to see her dreams and goals and her potential fulfilled and those of her family and her beautiful daughter.”

And while everyone is left to wonder why, Coughlin said there is no answer.

"Hopefully, and I believe we will, the monster who is responsible for this will be found and some explanation will be offered, but there can't be an answer to the question of why because there isn't one. There is no answer that doesn't offend humanity. There is no reason or logic," he said, adding it's important to remember Dwumfour and all she was able to accomplish in 30 years.

"No one deserves what happened to her,” Coughlin said. “Her absence leaves a hole in this community that will never be filled.”

Sayreville Council President Christian Onuoha said “It’s been very challenging and very unsettling,” and Dwumfour was “just one of a kind” and “very selfless.”

“I just believe that she was the best person to serve in our borough as a councilwoman, especially in the Republican party at the time as I was the recruiting chair,” Onuoha said.

Apostle Michael Agyemang Amoako, who represented the family at the service, said the love and support displayed along with kind words have gone a long way in helping the family cope.

The mayor said she learned much from Dwumfour.

“She taught me to be a better leader. She taught me that prayer is going to lead you down that right path. She taught me to believe when things didn’t go quite the way you wanted. She taught me to have faith in the process and that is a gift that I don’t think I can ever repay," said Kilpatrick, who promised to make certain Dwumfour’s message and mission will continue.

Dwumfour, the daughter of Ghana natives, grew up in Newark and moved to Sayreville with her daughter from a previous relationship several years ago. Last year ceremonies were held in New Jersey and Africa celebrating Dwumfour's marriage to Eze Kings Akwue, a pastor in Nigeria. Dwumfour was a pastor at Champions Royal Assembly in Newark.

On Wednesday Kings posted a video on his Facebook page of Dwumfour dancing in the middle of a crowd of people dressed in white, while wearing sunglasses and laughing. It's unclear if the video is from one of the wedding celebrations.

Kings, who has nearly 5,000 Facebook friends, captioned the video "Missed you my lovely wife. Justice for you" and included three crying emojis.

Eunice Dwumfour:Husband of slain Sayreville councilwoman posts Facebook tribute from Nigeria

Nicolas Teliano, of Sayreville, who identified himself as the father of Dwumfour's daughter, has created a GoFundMe page to raise $50,000 to help pay for Dwumfour's funeral and to fund a trust for their 12-year-old daughter.

"To know her is to know she was always full of life and faith. … If you knew Eunice, you'd know that besides her faith, her world revolved around her daughter Nicole," is written on the page.

Local Republicans will present three names to the Council for consideration as Dwumfour’s replacement, the mayor said, adding there is no one who can "fill her heels."

“I’m hoping that the Council in their deliberations is going to find the proper candidate that is going to reflect the same type of principles that Eunice embodied and if that doesn’t happen, it’s up to us as a community and the leaders that are seated at that dais to help that person get on track,” Kilpatrick said.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour remembered for service, faith