The Carter Center Liberia, on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, officially opened a Book of Condolence to honor the life and legacy of former U.S. President James Earl Carter Jr. The event, which was held in Monrovia, was attended by government officials, diplomats, humanitarian leaders, and members of the Carter Center’s team in Liberia.
The late President Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, was celebrated not only for his presidency but also for his monumental humanitarian work, which included pioneering efforts in disease control, human rights, mental health advocacy, and peacebuilding through The Carter Center.
The ceremony began with opening remarks by S. Benedict Dossen, Senior Country Representative for the Carter Center in Liberia and Mental Health Lead for the Center’s Africa initiatives. He expressed heartfelt gratitude for those in attendance and shared his deep appreciation for the relationships cultivated between Liberia and the Carter family.
“Thank you all for being here to celebrate the life and legacy of President Carter. We are grateful for the opportunity to spend time with you and to acknowledge your important relationship with President and Mrs. Carter and the Carter Center over many years,” Dossen began.
He also conveyed the family’s gratitude for the condolences received. “Jason Carter asked that I convey to you the family’s deep gratitude for your condolences at this time, and for your steadfast partnership with The Carter Center. President Carter always said that while he and Mrs. Carter had the vision to ‘Wage Peace, Fight Disease and Build Hope’ through the Center’s work, none of it would be possible without our partners’ generosity and strong commitment,” Dossen remarked.
He noted some of the major achievements under President Carter’s leadership, such as the fight against neglected tropical diseases like River Blindness, the eradication of Guinea Worm, and the Carter Center’s work on human rights and democracy. He continued, “To the very end, both President and Mrs. Carter held a fervent wish that the causes they believe in would find even more champions to ensure health, mental health, human rights, and peace for people everywhere.”
Dossen concluded his remarks by emphasizing the Carter Center’s ongoing commitment to President Carter’s work. “The Carter Center will carry on the work that President and Mrs. Carter started 40 years ago. Their dream is our dream. And that dream lives on, thanks to each of you who are here today.”
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf also spoke at the ceremony, highlighting President Carter’s invaluable contributions to Liberia and Africa. “It is such a pleasure to join all of you who are here to pay tribute to somebody who deserves tribute for the service he rendered to humanity, the service he rendered not only his country but Africa and more importantly what he did for Liberia,” Sirleaf said.
She recalled the crucial role President Carter played during Liberia’s post-war period. “He stood by Liberia in those very difficult days when we were just past war and trying to find our way for peace, for reconciliation, for development. President Carter was here,” she shared, noting his efforts to engage all sectors of the Liberian society in peacebuilding.
Sirleaf also praised the work of Mrs. Rosalynn Carter, who dedicated her efforts to mental health care. “Roslyn spent her time on mental care, an area that we find so neglected in our country and everywhere else,” Sirleaf stated. “We see the results; we see the effect of mental illness when we see people on the streets.”
She concluded by urging the gathered audience to embrace the spirit of public service embodied by President Carter. “I hope that because of him you will see yourselves as public servants, being able to do what you can because it is so often that those who say they are public servants use their office for personal enrichment,” Sirleaf remarked.
Rev. Foley E. Karpeh, speaking on behalf of First Lady Madam Kartumu Boakai, also paid tribute to President Carter’s enduring impact on Liberia. Although Madam Boakai was unable to attend due to other national engagements, Karpeh shared her gratitude and personal reflection on Carter’s legacy.
“President Carter had a humor,” Karpeh recalled. “When he was running for president, he said that people were asking, ‘Jimmy who?’ because he was from nowhere, a person nobody knew in the political space.” Karpeh continued by reflecting on his own experience working with the Carter Center on election programs in Liberia, underscoring the former president’s humility and dedication to service.
“Today, for me, it’s a moment of reflection,” Karpeh said. “We are grateful for his work, and it’s just a resilient work on mental health. We pray that his soul finds rest and peace with the Lord.”
Pastor Rev. Dr. Samuel Reeves, speaking on behalf of the Baptist Convention in Liberia, shared a deeply personal memory of President Carter’s visit to Liberia. He recalled a visit where President Carter attended church early in the morning before embarking on a mission behind enemy lines during a period of political tension.
“When that opportunity came, I called the leadership, and I informed them that President Carter wanted to come to church at seven o’clock. The entire church showed up,” Reeves said. He described the experience as a testament to President Carter’s commitment to his faith and to the people of Liberia.
Reeves reflected on President Carter’s legacy, quoting Benjamin Mays: “I have only just a minute, only 60 seconds in it forced upon me, can’t refuse it, but it’s up to me to use it.” He concluded with a prayer, “We want to thank God for President Carter, his legacy, and his work that will continue to inspire generations to come.”
The ceremony also included remarks from Col. Gregory Coleman, Inspector General of the Liberia National Police. Coleman highlighted President Carter’s profound influence on Liberia’s peacebuilding process and underscored the importance of continuing his legacy of service.
“We pray that his soul finds rest and peace,” Coleman said, extending condolences to the Carter family and expressing the police force’s commitment to uphold the principles of peace and human rights that President Carter championed.
The Book of Condolence, which will remain open up till April 11, 2025, allows all Liberians and visitors to honor the late president’s remarkable contributions to peace, health, and human rights worldwide.
The event was attended by various dignitaries, including staff of the Carter Center Liberia, the Bureau of Immigration, and other key stakeholders. The ceremony reinforced the ongoing mission of The Carter Center to continue the work initiated by President Carter and to honor his enduring legacy in Liberia and across the globe.
As the Book of Condolence continues to be signed by the public, the Carter Center remains dedicated to carrying forward the vision of President Carter: to wage peace, fight disease, and build hope.
