-Calls for Unity Among Liberians
By Jerromie S. Walters
Jewel Howard Taylor, Liberia’s immediate former vice president, extended her condolences to the widow of the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson, and offered prayers for her strength and courage during this difficult time.
Influential Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson was confirmed dead on Thursday, November 28, 2024. He died at the Hope For Women hospital. Sen. Johnson was last seen on November 25 when he honored the legacy of the late Gnassingbe Eyadema, former President of Togo, by naming his university’s auditorium after him.
During a condolences visit at his home in Paynesville City, on December 4, 2024, the former vice president consoled the fallen Senator’s wife: “Over the last six or seven months, we’ve been in constant contact. I was supposed to go with him to the dedication of the school, but when they changed the date, I had some appointments in Ghana. I told him that when I come back, I would see him. Unfortunately, what has happened has happened. We can only say sorry. We pray that God will give you the strength and the courage to go through this process,” she expressed
Madam Taylor continued, “It’s a long process, but we wanted to say sorry. To tell you that we are concerned about what has happened. We came to express our sympathy.” She reflected on a conversation they shared, where the senator revealed his indifference to public criticism regarding his past actions during the Liberian civil conflict. “He said the truth of the matter is that God has forgiven me, so my heart is at rest. Let people talk. They will talk,” Madam Taylor quoted the fallen senator, highlighting his resilience and faith.
A Call for Unity in Grief
During her visit to the senator’s home, Madam Taylor urged Liberians to embrace the senator’s legacy as a reason to unify. “I pray that it is a unifying force,” she stated, her words resonating with hope for a more cohesive nation. “When you listen to the media, you see all kinds of different videos that he wasn’t really happy about some of the things that were happening. But I always say, and I posted on Facebook, that when somebody dies, everything dies. So for me, let’s honor him. He was a statesman. He served his county; he served his people, and we can’t overlook that.”
Madam Taylor characterized the senator’s death as a profound loss, not only for Nimba County but for all of Liberia. “It is a loss to the people of Nimba, and it is a loss to the people of Liberia. I just came to say sorry to the people of Nimba. Sorry to the widow and the children. All of us have lost because he was an advisor to many people quietly. He was an advisor and a father to me,” she reflected, her emotions palpable. “Senator Johnson is a part of the history of the National Patriotic Party (NPP). We cannot divorce ourselves from that. He has been a father and a friend to me.”
Cherished Memories
In a moment of nostalgia, Madam Taylor shared a cherished memory from after the recent elections, and illustrated the depth of their relationship. “After the elections, he called me one day and said, ‘I know you vex with me,’ and I replied, ‘No, Senator, how can I be vex with you?’ Then he said, ‘Let bygones be bygones; we got plenty years ahead.’ I told him I never had a problem because he was my pa; I can’t get vex with my father. That was the most profound moment,” she recalled, a smile breaking through her sadness.
Jewel: “We have been in touch over the last months, talking about different things. He had hoped that I would have gone to Nimba so we could have time to talk, but you know, God has his own way of working things out. We are just sorry that he’s gone at this moment, and we just have to honor him.”
She rallied Liberians “I pray that it is a unifying force. When you listen to the media, you see all kinds of different videos that he wasn’t really happy about some of the things that were happening. But I always say, and I posted on Facebook, that when somebody dies, everything dies. So for me, let’s honor him. He was a statesman. He served his county; he served his people, and we can’t overlook that.”
Born on July 6, 1952, Prince Yormie Johnson was a prominent Liberian politician and former warlord who served as a senator for Nimba County since 2006. His controversial past as a rebel leader during the First Liberian Civil War shaped his political career. Johnson later allied with Charles Taylor as part of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), serving as the NPFL’s Chief Training Officer. Taylor’s fighters crossed the border from Ivory Coast and began operations in Liberia on Christmas Eve, 1989.
The burial
The Public Affairs Committee, in coordination with the protocol overseeing funeral itineraries, recently announced the official schedule for the funeral and burial of the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson. The events are set to honor the legacy of a prominent figure in Liberian politics and community service.
On Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM: the grand funeral service will take place at the PYJ University Auditorium. The service will feature prayers, eulogies, and tributes that highlight Senator Johnson’s achievements in public service, religious ministry, and community development.
Following the service, a solemn ceremony will be held for the interment of Senator Prince Y. Johnson, marking the conclusion of a life dedicated to the service of his people.
The Public Affairs Committee encourages all citizens and well-wishers to participate in these events to honor the life and legacy of the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson.
