Africa-Press – Liberia. The William R. Tolbert, Jr. Foundation (WRTJF) on Sunday, May 12, 2024, held a thanksgiving service to honor the enduring legacy of the man from whom it gets its name, former president of the Republic of Liberia, William R. Tolbert, Jr., at the Zion Praise Baptist Church in Bentol City, Montserrado County, Liberia.
Established in 2015 in Monrovia, and housed in the Lion House in Bentol City, the mission and vision of the WRTJF are to preserve the late President Tolbert’s legacy through a memorial Library, Museum, and Research Center for documents, speeches, audiovisuals, personal papers, and photographs chronicling the life, career, and administration of President William R. Tolbert, Jr., and his wife, Mrs. Victoria A. David Tolbert.
Ultimately, beneficiaries are expected to learn how the lives and legacies of Former President and Mrs. Tolbert continue to positively impact societal transformation in Liberia, Africa, and the world.
Born on May 13, 1907, to the union of Hon. William R. Tolbert, Sr., and Mrs. Charlotte A. Hoff-Tolbert in the City of Bentol, William R. Tolbert, Jr. and his other siblings were nurtured in a Christian environment at home and in the Zion Praise Baptist Church (ZPBC) in Bensonville, where his father was an elder.
The church was established on March 10, 1887.
As a boy, Tolbert Jr. attended the government school in Bensonville and later entered Crummel Memorial Hall in Clay-Ashland. He matriculated to Liberia College (now University of Liberia) and graduated cum laude with a B.A. in 1934.
Two years later, in 1936, Tolbert Jr. married Victoria Anna David, daughter of the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court at the time, in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County.
His career as a public servant commenced as a clerk in the Bureau of Supplies at the Department of the Treasury and, from 1936 to 1943, he served as a disbursing officer (Payment of the Republic).
From 1943 to 1951, he was a member of the House of Representatives. In January 1952, he was selected to serve as Vice President of the Republic of Liberia under then President William V. S. Tubman.
Following the demise of President Tubman in July 1971, Dr. Tolbert was sworn in as President of the Republic of Liberia. He served in that capacity until his assassination in the military coup d’état on April 12, 1980.
Serving as guest preacher at the Thanksgiving Service, Rev. Dr. Momolu A. Massaquoi, senior pastor of Howell Macedonia Baptist Church and president of the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, spoke on the theme “The Legacy of Service, Hope, and Unity” from Micah 6:8. Rev. Massaquoi disclosed that former president Tolbert was Liberia’s renowned president, Africa, and world leader.
According to him, their gathering that day was to reflect on the legacy of service, hope, and unity as exemplified in the life of the late President Tolbert. And it emphasizes that President Tolbert was a man of service who dedicated his entire life to serving his country and his people.
He said that President Tolbert exemplified service through his efforts to promote social justice and equity and established numerous programs and initiatives aimed at lifting the poor and marginalized in Liberian society.
“He demonstrated service by implementing educational reforms to increase access to quality education for all Liberians. He launched health initiatives to improve the health infrastructure and provided essential medical services to the underprivileged community in Liberia,” he said. “In his service, he was selfless. He amended the constitution to give him a term of eight years. When some of his associates agitated, he said, “I will serve my country as long as I have life; I do not have to be president to do so.”
Rev. Massaquoi emphasized that President Tolbert’s life was about giving and that he served as the first black president of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), president of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention (LBMEC), and chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which is now the African Union.
He further stressed that President Tolbert served to give and improve the lives of others, not himself, and he was also a man of hope.
“President Tolbert exemplified the legacy of hope for Liberia,” he added. “Mercy kept him, and mercy drove him to do what he did. His unwavering hope was evident in his words and actions. In his own words, he said, “Hope is the spark that ignites the flame of progress. It is the belief in a better tomorrow that drives us to work tirelessly today.”
Rev. Massaquoi highlighted three aspects of hope that former President Tolbert inspired in Liberians — economic hope, educational hope, and social hope.
“He invested in infrastructure, agriculture, and industry. Tolbert sought to build a foundation for a prosperous and hopeful full-time life for all Liberians. Education was a cornerstone of President Tolbert’s vision for a brighter future,” he narrated. “He prioritized improving access to quality education for all Liberians, believing that an educated populace is key to building a more equitable and hopeful society.”
In addition, he stated that President Tolbert was a champion of social justice and equity and worked to address social inequalities, promote inclusivity, and protect the rights of all citizens. “He advocated for fair treatment and respect for diversity.”
In conclusion, Rev. Massaquoi urged Liberians to be inspired by the service, hope, and unity of the late President Tolbert and walk in his footsteps. “Let’s act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord.”
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