Published: August 9, 2025
MONROVIA – The Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Sylvester M. Grigsby, a trusted confidant of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and one of Liberia’s most seasoned statesmen, has died following a protracted illness.
The Liberian Investigator has learned that Mr. Grigsby, who had been in the United States in recent months receiving medical treatment, passed away over the weekend. He was, until his death, a key member of President Boakai’s Cabinet, appointed at the start of the administration in January 2024.
A veteran diplomat and career public servant, Grigsby’s tenure in government spanned decades. His service record includes stints as Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister, and several ambassadorial postings under previous administrations.
He and President Boakai shared a personal and professional bond stretching back to their school days at the College of West Africa. That relationship, rooted in mutual trust, elevated Grigsby to one of the President’s closest advisers and most reliable enforcers of his policy vision.
Widely respected for his humility, discipline, and grace, Grigsby was known for his quiet but steady leadership. In the President’s absence on official trips, he would discreetly manage Cabinet affairs, ensuring continuity without drawing public attention.
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