She departed this life at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of service, resilience, and devotion to family and country.
Monrovia – The Best, Porte, and Stewart families mourn the passing of Muriel Enid Best, the matriarch of the Best Family of Liberia. She departed this life at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of service, resilience, and devotion to family and country.
Born on February 26, 1932, to the union of George and Lilian Best, Muriel was a woman of intellect and determination. A graduate of St. Theresa’s Convent in 1950, she wasted no time in charting her professional course. Even before completing high school, she was a certified stenographer, proficient in shorthand and typing—a skill her mother, Lilian, ensured all her daughters acquired at the Eugenia Simpson Cooper School of Stenography. This early training prepared Muriel for a career that would take her from the courts of Liberia to the corridors of diplomacy.
Muriel’s ambition and aptitude led her to further studies in steno-typing in New York. Upon her return, she worked with the Liberian law courts before embarking on a distinguished career in the diplomatic service. In 1954, she joined the Liberian Consulate General in New York and later served at the Liberian Embassy in Washington, D.C., where she was a diplomatic officer. She dedicated over a decade to representing Liberia on the international stage before returning home in 1967 to co-found Auriole Enterprises, Inc., a business that would become a pillar of Liberia’s commercial landscape.
At Auriole, Muriel proved to be not only a skilled administrator but also a visionary entrepreneur. The company rapidly grew to become the nation’s leading supplier of school uniforms, while also importing and distributing electrical appliances, home and office furniture, and carpets. Her managerial acumen ensured the business thrived, impacting countless lives through employment and service.
In 1988, she joined her brother Kenneth and his wife, Mae Gene, at the Liberian Observer Corporation, the pioneering independent newspaper that she had helped finance in 1980. As a senior staff member, she contributed significantly to the institution, which became a beacon of press freedom and democratic advocacy in Liberia.
Muriel’s story is inseparable from that of her father, George Stanfield Best, a man whose journey from his homeland in Trinidad and Tobago to Liberia was marked by adventure and purpose. While studying theology at Howard University, he was conscripted into the British Army at the start of World War I, during which travel the world and ultimately settled in Liberia. Fluent in six languages, George Best became an esteemed educator, teaching at Cuttington Divinity School and, later, the Christ Church Parish Day School in Crozierville, where he met Lilian Porte, sister of the famed Liberian pamphleteer Albert Porte. The marriage of George and Lilian in 1931 gave rise to a family that would leave an indelible mark on Liberia.
As the eldest of their children, Muriel embodied the values of discipline and generosity. She was a formidable presence—demanding excellence while offering unwavering support to those she loved. Her strength was matched by her sacrifice; she put others before herself, providing shelter and protection to family and friends in times of need. Her brother Kenneth, at her bedside during her final moments, reflected on the extraordinary milestone she had achieved—living the longest (at 93) among the Best and Porte families.
Muriel was predeceased by her sisters, Sybil Sieh (Aloysius), Beryl Brewer (Charles), and Genevieve Dorbor (J. Mamadee), as well as her brothers, Canon Burgess Carr (Frances) and Kelvyn Best. She is survived by her two remaining brothers, Kenneth Y. Best (Mae Gene) and Keith Neville A. Best (Emma), and her sister, Ina D. King.
In her final years, she was lovingly cared for by her niece, Maureen Sieh, who remained by her side until the very end. Muriel transitioned at home in Congo Town, surrounded by family.
Her passing has evoked heartfelt tributes, none more poignant than the reflections of her cousin, John H. T. Stewart. He described her as a woman of few words but immense wisdom, a consummate diplomat, an astute businesswoman, and a quiet yet steadfast supporter of the struggle for democracy in Liberia. He recalled her courage in sheltering him and Senator Conmany Wesseh in the turbulent days following the April 14, 1979, Rice Riots, and her unwavering solidarity in times of political repression.
Beyond her professional and political engagements, Muriel was known for her zest for life. She relished a good game of Scrabble, often outplaying even her brother Keith, and enjoyed life’s simple pleasures, including her long-held fondness for beer and cigarettes—habits she only abandoned in her later years due to health reasons.
Her life was one of purpose, commitment, and quiet defiance against injustice. As she joins the ancestors, she leaves behind a legacy of service, love, and resilience. May her soul find eternal rest, and may her memory continue to inspire those who walk in her footsteps.
