The esteemed politician has joined mourners across Africa to pay a touching tribute to this examplery woman who affected the lives of millions.The Senator describes her causine,Mrs. Nancy Bohn Doe as “A native woman who became a national icon in Liberia”.
Nancy Bohn Doe, of Ivorian origin, born in 1949 in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh county, in Liberia, is an eminent figure recognized for her contributions as ordinary citizen, merchant, then first lady and defender of educational opportunities. She died on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the age of 76.
Growing up in rural Grand Gedeh (Liberia) and Blolequin (Ivory Coast), she developed a strong sense of community and an entrepreneurial spirit, which led her to move to Monrovia in the 1960s. Once in the Liberian bustling capital, she made her marks as a trader, as well as as a dedicated mother and a loving wife of a man known to history as Samuel Kanyon Doe, first “native” president of the Republic of Liberia.
Indeed, in the late 1960s, Nancy fell in love with Samuel Doe, a member of the Liberian armed forces. Their union, which culminated into a marriage in 1969. Together, they welcomed four children into their family, raising them with values instilled by their cultural heritage and their experiences. Their young family flourished in a context of political transitions, as the winds of independence blew across Africa and the Caribbean.
Nancy’s life took a significant turning point when Samuel orchestrated a coup in 1980, taking control of the nation and leading to Nancy’s ascent to the role of first lady of Liberia. She embraced her responsibilities with grace, simplicity and passion, working to improve the lives of women in Liberia. One of her notable achievements during this period was the establishment of a national trading women’s association, allowing many women to access networks that served them as springboards to get out of precariousness, consolidate solidarity and contribute to national economic growth.
In recognition of her efforts, the market of Jorkpeh Town (Sinkor, Monrovia) was baptized Nancy B. Doe Market, serving as a tribute to her commitment to the empowerment of women and economic resilience. Over the years, that market has become a symbol of hope and opportunity for numerous traders, promoting a feeling of community and entrepreneurial spirit. Although she had not received education in modern schools, Nancy’s commitment to education was nevertheless deep. Thus, during a visit to the United States in June 1983, she took the opportunity to negotiate scholarships for Liberian students at the University of Chicago, allowing them to pursue higher education and have a better future. Her plea for education has highlighted her dedication to improving the lives of young Liberians, even in the midst of tumultuous political circumstances. Thus, Nancy B. Doe, the ordinary citizen of modest origin and without formal education, became the “People’s First Lady”, much like the People’s Princess Diana of England, in latter years and on a larger scale.
Nancy’s life took a tragic turn in 1990 when Samuel Doe was executed, marking a deep loss that coincided with the trigger of the First Liberian Civil War. Faced with this upheaval, she seeked safety in exile, navigating between challenges of displacement while taking care of the DOE children: the four children she had with her husband, as well as four others from the extramarital liaisons of Samuel : Veronica, Samuel K. Doe Junior, Kannie, Varney, Roland, Celue, Tdisho and Kathy Germina.
She also had to bear a host of nephews and nieces, as well as former employees of the First Family.After the civil war, Nancy returned to her homeland, a courageous decision reflecting her inseparable link to her roots.
On November 12, 2016, Nancy made the headlines by filing a lawsuit against the Liberian government before the ECOWAS court. The trial affirmed that the government had refused her access to the succession of her late husband, a legal battle which symbolized her quest for justice and recognition after the tumultuous history of her family and the nation. The Court ruled in her favor, ordering the government to pay her a sum valued at around $ 21.2 million in 2023. Despite this court’s decision, Nancy found herself waiting for compensation, which has never fully materialized until her death, illustrating the perilous struggles facing those who seek justice and recognition of their rights.
In that same year, 2023, she called for a state reburial for her husband, Samuel Kanyon Doe, reflecting her love and lasting respect for him, as well as her desire for closing and healing for their family and the nation. Overall, the life of Nancy Bohn Doe is a testimony of resilience, commitment and the unwavering spirit of a woman dedicated to rehabilitation, to peace, and to the development of her country and its people. Her journey reflects the deep impacts of the challenges, both personal and collective, faced by Liberians and serving as inspiration for future generations.
For these struggles and achievements of Mrs. Nancy Doe, her Ganhan-Konhoun and Wôho families in Jarzon (Liberia), in Doké, Ganhia and Zomplou (Ivory Coast), as well as all the Krahn (Wê) people of the Cavally and Guemon regions in Côte d’Ivoire, pay tribute and salute her memory. She went in peace after having “fought the good fight”, leaving behind, a nation on a stable path towards lasting peace and prosperity, a family and loved ones bereaved, but grateful, as well as a nation afflicted, yet proud. May she rest in peace now and forever. I bid farewell to the people’s First Lady, my dear cousin, Nancy-Gnromplu Bohn DOE.
Kehi Edouard DJOUHA,Senator of Cavally Region, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
