MONROVIA – A closure to 45 years of pain and agony stemming from the brutal assassination of President William Richard Tolbert on April 12, 1980, is gradually approaching as efforts to turn a new page of national healing intensify.
The Baptist Church in Liberia and its educational mission program have entered into a formal agreement with the April 22 Group, signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on February 25, 2025. The agreement provides space for a mausoleum where the ashes of the late President Tolbert will be transferred for a dignified memorial, recognizing his contributions to both the country and the Church.
President Tolbert was overthrown and murdered, plunging Liberia into years of instability, including civil wars that denied the nation its rightful place among progressive states.
During his recent State of the Nation Address, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai emphasized that it is time for both Tolbert and Samuel Kanyon Doe, who were both brutally killed and denied proper burials, to be reinterred and memorialized fittingly.
Gathered at the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary along the Roberts Field Highway were scores of family members of the late President Tolbert, as well as relatives of the 13 cabinet officials executed by firing squad at the Post-Stockade on April 22, 1980.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, speaking at the occasion, emphasized the significance of the gathering—not only to fulfill a duty but also to reflect on Liberia’s tragic past and ensure such atrocities never recur.
“Today, we gather with a profound sense of purpose and reflection as we sign this Memorandum of Understanding, marking the culmination of two years of dedicated deliberations. This moment signifies the allocation of two lots of land on the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary campus as a burial site—the final resting place for our late President, Rev. Dr. William R. Tolbert Jr. He was the visionary behind the establishment of the Seminary, a former President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, President of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), and President of Liberia,” Kemayah stated.
Like others at the event, Kemayah underscored the need to memorialize the 13 government officials who were executed along the beach near the Executive Mansion.
“This initiative also honors the 13 officials of Tolbert’s government, who were publicly executed on April 22, 1980, following his assassination and overthrow,” he said.
Kemayah, who serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, emphasized that national healing and genuine reconciliation remain critical to Liberia’s journey toward progress.
“This gesture by the Seminary and the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention is a significant step toward healing and closure for families who have borne the weight of loss for 45 years. Let us at this time pay homage to the families of our slain President and the 13 executed officials,” he said, calling on family members to stand as the audience paid special tribute.
Addressing the grieving families, Kemayah acknowledged their resilience and the enduring pain they have carried. “The agony of losing loved ones in such a tragic manner is unimaginable. It is our fervent hope and prayer that today’s signing brings some measure of closure.”
He expressed gratitude to the April 22 Memorial Group for their commitment to honoring the memory of their deceased family members. “Your dedication to this endeavor, funded entirely by you—the families and friends of the victims—reflects a deep sense of love and respect for your fallen loved ones.”
Kemayah also praised the partnership between the April 22 Memorial Group and the Seminary, calling it an exemplary demonstration of how collaboration can yield meaningful outcomes.
Rev. Reeves and Martha Henries sign MoU
“This MoU is not just a document; it is a testament to our collective desire for genuine reconciliation and healing,” he stressed. “The events of April 12 and 22, 1980, serve as stark reminders of life’s fragility and the importance of unity in adversity.”
He further called for the remembrance of security personnel and others who died in the line of duty during that period. “The sacrifices of valiant security personnel must never be forgotten. The families of the victims have mourned for more than four decades without closure. It is imperative that we, as a nation, acknowledge their anguish and support their healing journey.”
Kemayah emphasized that now is the time for authentic reconciliation and meaningful engagement with all Liberians, regardless of social, political, religious, ethnic, or geographic backgrounds.
Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Reeves Jr., President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention (LBMEC), reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to providing a dignified space for the memorialization of the fallen leaders.
“The men we honor today have laid down their crowns at Jesus’s feet. Liberia’s story must always be told. Let us continue to work to honor their contributions to peace and national development in whatever small ways we can,” Reeves urged.
He said the Baptist Convention and its World Alliance fully support the initiative and will continue to collaborate with the April 22 Memorial Group.
President Tolbert was the first Black President of the Baptist World Alliance. Following his assassination, then-Master Sergeant Samuel Kanyon Doe led 16 soldiers in toppling his government. Within 10 days, a court martial found the 13 cabinet officials guilty of crimes deemed unforgivable by Doe and his junta, leading to their execution by firing squad on poles planted along the beach near the Executive Mansion.
Reeves reflected on Tolbert’s public policy of “from mat to mattress—higher heights,” describing it as a visionary step toward improving governance and raising living standards, which was derailed by political turmoil and subsequent tragedy.
Speaking on behalf of the April 22 Memorial Group, Madam Elfreida Stewart Tamba expressed gratitude to the Baptist Church for providing space for the relocation of President Tolbert’s remains.
“To our fallen members, including Richard, Bill, and all others who predeceased us on this journey of fatherly love, we are gathered here today at the Seminary in culmination of the relocation agreement. The mission is on course. Thank you, Jesus,” she said.
She emphasized that those being memorialized were deeply cherished, revealing that the group had managed to obtain the eight poles on which the 13 officials were executed. She credited former Minister of State for Special Projects, Hon. Trokon Kpui, and former President George Weah for their assistance in securing these historical artifacts.
Tamba also praised President Joseph Nyumah Boakai for rekindling national consciousness about the need to properly memorialize Presidents Tolbert and Doe.
President Tolbert’s remains were originally buried at the Palm Grove Cemetery on Center Street, which over the years has been desecrated by intruders, particularly drug addicts. Many families have lost track of their loved ones’ graves due to vandalism and the deterioration of tombs. Successive governments have repeatedly expressed the desire to close down the cemetery.
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