Cherbie Lamptey

On the evening of July 16, 2024, at approximately 11:45 p.m., Cherbie “Odartei” Lamptey was rushed to Howard County General Hospital by his family. Tragically, he passed away unexpectedly a few hours later, on July 17, 2024, at 2:57 a.m.

Cherbie Lamptey was born in Kumasi, Ghana, on March 29, 1960. He was the second child of the late Mr. Frederick Nii Badu Lamptey and Mrs. Felicia Lamptey. Growing up in a close-knit family, Cherbie learned the values of hard work, integrity, and community from an early age. As a child, Cherbie was cheerful and outgoing, known for his distinguished smile and love of making new friends.

Cherbie’s educational journey began at South Labadi Experimental School (Osu Boys School), where he first discovered his love for learning. He then attended Presbyterian Boys Boarding Middle School and St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Osu. As an adolescent, Cherbie exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit, starting various businesses during this time and into early adulthood. However, he aspired for greater success during the mass migration, which motivated his move to the United States in the late 1980s. There, he developed a keen interest in software engineering. In May 1992, he earned an associate degree in Computer Programming Technology, and later, in August 2002, he achieved a Bachelor of Science degree from Worcester State College. Pursuing this field as an immigrant was challenging due to his strong accent and stutter, which were obstacles he eventually overcame. In a letter he wrote to himself, Cherbie reflected:

“Don’t Quit! As a freshman on a university campus in the late 1980s, I bumped into a countryman. A conversation ensued, and he asked me, what are you studying? I said computers! His response was, “why? Who’s going to hire you?” I said, it’s a new field, and I’m interested. He said, “You’re better off getting a factory job, saving money, and returning home after four years.” I heard this same demeaning crap from a few more people, but I shrugged it off. Fast-forward two years, and I was recruited by a major, reputable computer company [Digital, now referred to as HP] to intern with a salary. To date, I still work in my field of training.”

Cherbie was married to his beautiful wife of 33 years, Mrs. Ekua Lamptey (Sylvia), with whom he shared a loving and supportive relationship built on tenacity. They were blessed with three children: Naa Lamley in May 1994, Naa-Lamiokor “Korkor” in April 1996, and Nii Lante in January 1998. Cherbie’s love for his family was evident in everything he did, as he was a genuine provider and protector. To afford an even better life for his loved ones, he relocated his family from Worcester, Massachusetts, to Columbia, Maryland, in 2004, where he had access to a robust career market in his field and an educational system known for academic excellence and diversity for his children.

Cherbie achieved many great things in his career and has extensive experience working with several well-renowned companies, including Riggs Bank (later acquired by PNC Financial Services Group) and Friedman, Billings, and Ramsey Group, Inc. (FBR). His most recent employment was at Lockheed Martin, which merged with Leidos in August 2016 to create the defense industry’s largest IT services provider. There, he specialized as a Cloud Architect with a proven track record involving all phases of systems engineering, integration, and network administration. He enjoyed his coworkers, and they shared many laughs and fond memories, often gathering throughout the year for activities like fishing trips or dining at their favorite restaurants.

Outside of work, Cherbie was a man of nature who loved all things outdoors—from playing tennis at the local courts to strolling around the community lakefront on his Segway, riding his bike, or feeding the birds and squirrels. He was also extraordinarily fashion-forward and generous in sharing many of his possessions. As one of his former coworkers, Judy, recalled, “If someone commented on something he had—a pair of shoes, a bracelet, a piece of fruit—he immediately offered it to them, saying that’s what a godly man should do, being ever so humble.” In addition to these acts of generosity, he assisted many family members and friends in obtaining their United States citizenship and opened his doors to them following their migration.

Cherbie was a man of deep faith, with a strong belief in God central to his life. He encouraged everyone around him to experience God for themselves and was known for his outspoken nature regarding his beliefs. In November 2011, he created a Facebook group called Raised Hands, where he made daily posts sharing his faith and inspiring others in their spiritual journeys.

Cherbie Lamptey’s legacy is survived by his wife, three children, and four remaining siblings. Over the last eight years, he dedicated countless hours and resources to constructing a multilevel building property in Teshe Nungua, Ghana, named “Tsebi” (pronounced Cherbie). He was passionate about launching it in December 2024, with the hope that his family would cherish and maintain it for generations to come.