Theophilus
Ernest Eastman (T. Ernest)
The
Eastman family announces the death of its patriarch,
Theophilus Ernest Eastman (T. Ernest) in his
84th year. A beloved husband, father, grandfather,
brother, uncle, cousin and friend, deeply loved
and respected, died on Monday, February 28 at
the JFK Hospital in Monrovia. The family mourns
the irreplaceable loss of a wise elder and counsel,
who projected a joyous light in our lives, through
his inspiration, faith, optimism and perseverance.
He will live on in our hearts forever.
T.
Ernest had been in precarious health for the
last three months. As with everything else in
his life, he bore it with dignity, and deep
religious contentment. He chose to breathe his
last breath in his home land of Liberia.
Ernest
and the Eastman family hail from the township
of Crozierville, Monsterrado County, established
by Caribbean immigrants who joined the Liberian
society in the 1800. Like his father, Ernest
became a Liberian dedicated to uniting and building
Liberia. He was adamant in etching a respectable
place for Liberia among the nations of the world.
T. Ernest devoted his entire life to Liberian
Public service and will be remembered as the
creator of the modern Liberian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, and the mentor to many currently serving
as public servants in the foreign ministry and
numerous Liberian embassies around the world.
His work ethics, ideas, and ideals are stamped
on generations of Liberian Foreign service officials.
His
loss is mourned by his children: Willette (Henry
Holder), Catherine,(Verdell Houston), Kumba
(James McCritty), Theo (Linda), Oscar, Malaika
(Khalide Thompson), and Diamond, his siblings:
Bernice, Alvin, Emolyn, Beatrice, and a host
of nieces and nephews. On March 26, 2011 a State
Funeral Service led by the Liberian Government
will be held in Monrovia, after which interment
services will be held in his birth place of
Crozierville, Liberia. We appreciate the overflow
of kindness we have received from the Government
of President Ellen Sirleaf, Liberians at home,
in the USA and around the world, as well as
foreign friends.
