Chizoma Christine Ekechukwu

Heaven gained another angel when Chizoma “Chizo” Christine Ekechukwu, age 32, of Houston, Texas, passed away on August 13, 2026 in Houston. She died from complications from a rare form of leukemia after a 2 years and 8 months battle that she fought with so much grace. Born in Myrtle Beach, SC in 1994 to Dr. Peter and Mrs. Angela Ekechukwu, Chizo was the youngest of their four children. She was a proud graduate of Scholars Academy and Carolina Forest High School, where she lettered in volleyball and track & field. She was also a parishioner at St. James Catholic Church in Conway, SC where she received the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation and served faithfully as an altar server. She continued on to the University of Notre Dame where she graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavior. After Notre Dame, Chizo was a healthcare consultant with Huron Consulting and then Deloitte Consulting. She earned a full tuition scholarship from Deloitte to attend her dream full-time business school program at Duke University. She graduated from Duke in 2025 with a Master of Business Administration and Health Sector Management concentration. Despite her professional and academic accolades, Chizo was actually known for her beautiful smile, her giving spirit, her love for travel and enjoying life, and her unique ability to celebrate so many friends and family members for moments both big and small. She loved Jesus, fashion, her Nigerian culture, giving back to her community, and being an ally for marginalized communities. She especially loved any moment she could spend with her niece and nephew whom she loved very much. Despite her diagnosis she lived life to the fullest, including continuing to travel the world as her health and safety would permit. She is survived by her parents, Peter and Angela, her siblings Obinna, Nneka, and Iheanyi, her brother-in-law Tunlewa, her nephew Ozinna, her niece Amarachi, her godparents Don and Adetutu, godsiblings Bawa, Oya, Ewo, and TunTun, her dog Princess Amaka, and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends all around the world who loved her deeply. She was preceded in death by numerous family members, including her maternal and paternal grandparents, 7 paternal aunts and uncles and 1 maternal uncle. Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 20, 2026 from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm at Ocean View Funeral Home in Myrtle Beach. Funeral mass will be held on Monday, September 21, 2026 at 12:00 pm at St. James Catholic Church in Conway. Entombment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Chizo’s honor may be made to SECU Caring House in Durham, North Carolina. Caring House provided housing and community for Chizo, her mother, and countless other cancer patients undergoing treatment. At the time of her death she was their longest resident. Chizo will be missed immensely by so many. May her beautiful soul rest in peace. www.rememberingchizo.com Chizoma Christine Ekechukwu, formerly of Carolina Forest, passed away on August 13, 2026. Visitation for Ms. Ekechukwu will be held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Ocean View Funeral Home and Beach Crematory, Myrtle Beach Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 12:00 noon at St. James Catholic Church in Conway. Entombment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made local to SECU Caring House in Durham, North Carolina, where she received the majority of her care. Caring House provided housing and community for Chizoma, her mother, and countless other cancer patients. https://secucaringhouse.org/honoring-chizoma/ www.rememberingchizo.com

Chizoma Christine Ekechukwu

May 5, 1994 - August 13, 2026