MONROVIA – The remains of former Liberian President Dr. Samuel Kanyon Doe and former First Lady Madam Nancy Bohn Doe were on the morning of Wednesday, June 24, 2025, removed from the Samuel A. Stryker Funeral Parlor in Sinkor and transported under official escort to the Centennial Memorial Pavilion on Ashmun Street, where they now lie in state.
The solemn procession marked the formal start of state funeral activities organized by the Government of Liberia to honor the memory of the country’s 21st president and his widow. Military and state protocol officers accompanied the motorcade as it moved through central Monrovia, drawing quiet attention from citizens and onlookers.
In a statement signed by Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government released the official funeral schedule and declared a national mourning period from Tuesday, June 24, to Friday, June 27, 2025. During this period, the national flag is to be flown at half-mast from all public buildings between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai led government officials and dignitaries in opening the Book of Condolence at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion on Tuesday. He was joined by members of his Cabinet and other state actors who gathered to pay their respects and extend sympathy to the Doe family and the people of Grand Gedeh County.
Following the lying in state in Monrovia, the remains will be transported to Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, President Doe’s home region. On Thursday night, June 26, a wake-keeping will be held at the Albert T. White Sports Stadium in New Zwedru, beginning at 10:00 p.m. and continuing through the night.
Final funeral rites will take place on Friday, June 27, at the Zwedru City Hall starting at 9:00 a.m. The remains of the late President and First Lady will then be laid to rest at the Doe family compound in Zwedru City, marking the end of a long-awaited homecoming for the former Liberian leader.
Samuel K. Doe ruled Liberia from 1980 until his violent death in 1990 during the outbreak of the First Liberian Civil War. Rising from the military ranks, he became Liberia’s first indigenous head of state after toppling the True Whig Party government led by President William R. Tolbert Jr. His tenure was marked by sweeping political change, as well as periods of authoritarian rule and unrest.
Although his leadership remains controversial, many Liberians, especially from his native Grand Gedeh County, view Doe as a transformative figure whose rise to power symbolized a shift from settler elite dominance to indigenous participation in national affairs. For others, his legacy is inseparable from the years of conflict and political repression that followed.
The decision by the Boakai administration to organize a full state funeral for Doe and his wife has been met with mixed reactions. However, government officials say the observances are meant to foster national reconciliation and acknowledge the complex legacies of past leaders as part of Liberia’s post-war healing process.
The repatriation and state burial also put to rest decades of public speculation surrounding the final remains of President Doe. The effort to honor both him and the former First Lady with dignity is seen as a step toward rewriting historical narratives in a more inclusive national context.
In Zwedru, local officials and residents have begun preparations to receive the remains. Hundreds are expected to attend the final ceremonies, which will feature cultural displays, prayers, and formal eulogies from national and local leaders.
Security agencies have been mobilized to ensure safety and order throughout the events, especially during the cross-county motorcade from Monrovia to Zwedru and the high-profile burial proceedings.
As the country enters the final days of mourning, the state funeral has reawakened discussions about Liberia’s turbulent history and the men and women who shaped it. While some still debate Doe’s legacy, others see the ceremony as an important act of remembrance that reflects the government’s willingness to confront the past with solemnity and respect.
For the Doe family, the funeral brings long-sought closure. For the country, it is an opportunity to reflect on its journey and reaffirm its commitment to peace, unity, and democratic governance.
As the remains lie in state under the dome of the Centennial Pavilion, Liberia watches not just the burial of a former president, but the unfolding of a national reckoning, one that blends grief, memory, and hope for a more reconciled nation.
