Mrs. Nancy B. Doe, widow of slain Liberian President Samuel Kanyon Doe, has died in Monrovia.
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia, May 22, 2025 – Liberia is mourning the death of former First Lady, Nancy B. Doe, widow of slain President Samuel K. Doe. She passed away at her residence in Sinkor, Monrovia, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, following a prolonged illness, according to family sources.
The late Madam Nancy B. Doe served as Liberia’s First Lady from 1980 to 1990, during the presidency of her husband, Samuel K. Doe, who rose to power through a military coup. During her tenure, she was known for her charitable initiatives and advocacy for rights and welfare of women and children.
After the assassination of President Doe in September 1990, Mrs. Doe and her children went into exile. Nevertheless, she remained outspoken on matters concerning her late husband, including demand for rightful government benefits and call for proper authorization for his burial.
While an official family statement is still pending, tributes have already begun pouring in from across Liberia, honoring her role in the nation’s history and recognizing her resilience in the face of personal and national tragedy.
President Samuel Doe, who seized power in a 1980 military coup, was captured and killed in September 1990 by INPFL rebels loyal to late Senator Prince Yormie Johnson of Nimba County, a pivotal moment in Liberia’s brutal civil conflict.
News of her death comes at a time when the Government of Liberia, through President Joseph N. Boakai, initiated a process to honor and give her late husband and former President William R. Tolbert a befitting state burial to bring closure to an ugly chapter in Liberia’s political history. Editing by Jonathan Browne
