Held lovingly by his spouse Cleopatra and their daughters, Diana and Mayumi, the Honorable Sylvester Mondubue “Greg” Grigsby, Liberia’s Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, departed this world on August 9, 2025. At age 74, he leaves behind a household and a nation profoundly touched by his mild power, immense generosity, unwavering integrity, and devotion to Liberia. United in grief, but higher for the love he shared so freely.
By Cleopatra, Diana, and Mayumi Grigsby
Born October 15, 1950, in Sinoe County to Nyanabo and Numah Mondubue, he was adopted and raised lovingly by Harrison Grigsby Sr. and Diana Sylvia Grigsby (“Mama and Papa Coronary heart”). He grew up with each organic and adopted siblings and cousins. They instilled in him self-discipline, loyalty, religion in God, a perception in public service, schooling, and devotion to household, ideas he carried all through his life.
On the School of West Africa (CWA), Sylvester was identified for his brilliance, humility, and ideas. As a senior monitor, he started a lifetime of mentorship. He met Cleopatra Sangay Dudley, his spouse of 51 years, and solid lasting friendships, together with with Joseph Nyumah Boakai, future President of Liberia. At CWA, mates referred to as him “Greggo,” a shortened model of his final identify which later turned “Greg.” His lifelong ardour for recreation reveals started as a contestant on Meet the Problem, a quiz bowl competitors held in Liberia, the place he impressed household and viewers alike.
Following his commencement from CWA, Sylvester attended Cuttington School & Divinity College (now Cuttington College) from 1970 to 1973, the place he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Whereas at Cuttington, he excelled academically and was additionally lively in theatrical productions. Notably, he memorably portrayed the position of The King in The King and I, a efficiency he would remind his household of for years.
Greg’s integrity turned evident on a nationwide stage when President William R. Tolbert chosen him as Liberia’s first pupil consultant to journey overseas. After the journey, he returned residence and handed again his unspent per diem to the federal government. For him, public service meant stewardship, by no means self-enrichment.
Constructing on these ideas, Hon. Grigsby superior to serve Liberia within the mid-Nineteen Seventies as Particular Assistant to the Deputy Minister of International Affairs, cultivating his hallmark work ethic. By 1979, he was appointed Deputy Minister for Worldwide Cooperation, a task created for him, and later, Assistant Minister for Worldwide Cooperation and Financial Affairs. These positions enabled him to forge regional partnerships that strengthened Liberia’s world presence.
Throughout this time, his tutorial ambitions led him to Japan, the place, as the primary Liberian recipient of a Japanese authorities scholarship, he earned a Grasp of Science in Economics from the College of Tsukuba. With Cleopatra, he represented Liberia and opened doorways for others. After returning residence, they thought of their second daughter a present from Japan and gave her a Japanese identify.
After including tutorial credentials to his profession, a shift in administration led to him getting into personal enterprise in 1984 as Govt Vice Chairman of Liberia Maritime & Stevedoring Firm. Subsequently, as Chairman and Writer of SUNRISE Journal, SUNTIMES Newspaper, and SUN Newspapers, he promoted innovation, free expression, and impartial journalism. He remained fiercely dedicated as a voice of the opposition, at the same time as his press workplace confronted suspected arson attributable to political interference.
When civil battle engulfed Liberia, Hon. Grigsby and Cleopatra escaped, a selection solely made after making certain their youngsters’s security. Even whereas exiled from the house he cherished, his coronary heart remained tethered to public service and his folks.
Regardless of being removed from residence, from 1992 to 1995 he continued his service beneath President Amos Sawyer, a mentor, within the Interim Authorities of Nationwide Unity as Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union Fee, and the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Secretariat. He developed a working data of French along with his working data of Japanese. Throughout Liberia’s turmoil, he negotiated the restoration of Liberia’s voting rights on the ACP Secretariat. For his management, he obtained the Grand Band of the Order of the Star of Africa in 1993.
All through his diplomatic service, he remained dedicated to household, touring throughout continents to be with his family members. He relocated ‘Papa Coronary heart’ to Belgium and visited household unfold out attributable to struggle in Liberia, in France, Germany, and america.
By 1998, following years of diplomatic service overseas and the challenges of displacement attributable to struggle, he and his household totally relocated to america. There, he continued his public service, working with the New York Metropolis Housing Authority and later with the Fairfax County Housing Authority in Virginia. For Greg, service was by no means about titles or borders, however about folks.
His need to contribute on to Liberia by no means waned. In 2006, he returned as Superintendent of Sinoe County. There, he prioritized reconciliation and improvement by creating the County Improvement Belief Fund. His initiatives turned fashions of sustainable native governance.
From 2009 to 2014, constructing on his earlier work, he served as Deputy Minister for Worldwide Cooperation & Financial Integration and Deputy Minister for International Affairs. He oversaw the mobilization of lots of of thousands and thousands in support and infrastructure from companions like Japan, China, India, and Brazil. Devoted to nurturing future leaders, he started instructing on the College of Liberia.
In December 2014, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed him Minister of State with out Portfolio. She later praised him as “knowledgeable politician who persistently positioned nation pursuits above private beneficial properties.”
His legacy of public service continued into January 2024, when President Joseph Nyumah Boakai referred to as him to function Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Performing Head of Cupboard. Boakai praised him as “a pillar of integrity in public service,” crediting Greg’s regular management and smart counsel with serving to steer the nation.
All through his lifetime, Hon. Grigsby was celebrated for his important nationwide and worldwide contributions. His dedication to public service was acknowledged with quite a few prestigious honors, together with Liberia’s Grand Band of the Order of the Star of Africa, Haiti’s Chevalier of the Nationwide Order of Advantage, and his knighthood as Commander of Liberia’s Most Venerable Order of the Pioneers. Regardless of these accolades, he not often spoke of them, selecting as a substitute to share his pleasure in Liberia’s progress, his craving for trustworthy governance, and his deep hope for the following era.
Greg’s religion guided his life. He was a loyal member of theUnited Methodist church and lively in his Houston congregation. He usually traveled and slept with a Bible. He as soon as joked along with his daughter that she “had no selection however to be Methodist” when she thought of altering church buildings.
He leaves mourning his spouse of over 5 a long time, Cleopatra Sangay (née Dudley) Grigsby; daughters Diana and Scheagbe Mayumi “Umi”; and their grandchildren. His daughters made him proud by persevering with his dedication to tutorial excellence and public service. His Grigsby, Mondubue, and the Dudley household he married into all mourn him. He’s additionally survived by his uncle, siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, and a large circle of mates and colleagues worldwide.
In honor of his dedication to schooling, his household has established the Sylvester Mondubue Grigsby Scholarship in his identify for Liberians to attend the School of West Africa. This scholarship furthers his custom of serving to many Liberians attend college. Funeral services will probably be held in Houston, Texas. The visitation and wake will happen on the night of Friday, August 29, 2025. The funeral service will probably be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025, adopted by the committal service and repast. An official memorial service in Liberia, the nation he served for 40 years will probably be held later this 12 months.
From returning unspent authorities journey funds as a younger pupil to main Liberia’s diplomatic corps, from escaping struggle to rebuilding peace at residence, Hon. Sylvester Grigsby’s life was a testomony to integrity, humility, braveness, and love.
Relaxation in everlasting peace, Excellency, your legacy endures.
