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 HONORABLE BENJAMIN LAHAI KARMO
JULY 8, 1945 – October 11, 2021
The KARMO, FAHNBULLEH, BENSON, BURPHY, HOFF & KEYMAH-BING KIAWU families sadly and mournfully announce the passing of Honorable BENJAMIN LAHAI KARMO. Our loving Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather, Cousin and Uncle, who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away on October 11, 2021, after a brief illness.
Honorable Karmo was born unto the union of Gbindy & Hannah Miatta Fahnbulleh-Karmo on July 8, 1945, in the Town of Haygbimah, Tewor District, Grand Cape Mount County, Republic of Liberia. He moved to Monrovia at an early age and started his primary education at the Monrovia Demonstration Elementary School.
Young Lahai completed his junior high education in Tubmanburg, Bomi County and subsequently matriculated to Laboratory High School, now William V.S. Tubman High School, and graduated in 1966.
Lahai began his working career as a cadet at the Department of Treasury now Ministry of Finance for Development Planning. He was quickly promoted to Cashier & Chief Cashier due to his good penmanship (records were handwritten) and quantitative skills. He served diligently at the Treasury Department until 1969, when he travelled to the United States for higher education.
As a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, he enrolled at the Northern Kentucky University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and subsequently a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Business Management from Xavier University in Cincinnati.
Encouraged by the call of the late President William R. Tolbert to qualified Liberians in the Diaspora to return home and contribute to nation building, Lahai returned to Liberia in 1978, and was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Customs for Excise and Training at the Ministry of Finance.
After the change in government in 1980, Honorable Karmo was appointed Assistant Minister of Finance for Revenue & Excise. Later, he spent several years in the private sector as Managing Director of the Liberian Agricultural Company, and then was appointed as Assistant Minister of Expenditure at the Ministry of Finance.
Considering his dedication and commitment, his high sense duty and professionalism, he once served as Acting Minister of Finance during the Interim Government of National Unity era.
Because of the prolonged ongoing civil wars and crises in Liberia, the Late Honorable Karmo returned to Cincinnati, and worked for about 15 years with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) before retiring in 2019.
His parents, Gbindy & Hannah Miatta Fahnbulleh-Karmo, and his son, Adama Karmo predeceased him.
The late Honorable Karmo leaves to mourn his loss his devoted wife, Jane Musulin Benson-Karmo; his children: Lahai Momolu (Valda), Saidue Danny, Ansu, Varney, Benny, Momolu Gaspa, Gorgor, Angeline, Hannah, Sadea, Sadatu, and Caroline; his brothers and sisters: Momo (KO), John Siafa, Morris, Jebbeh, Yatta, and Bendu; 15 grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends in Liberia and the United States
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, November 6, 2021, at the Southern Baptist Church, 3556 Reading Rd, Cincinnati OH 45229.
Viewing starts at 9 AM, followed by the funeral services. Immediately thereafter, interment follows at the Spring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati OH 45232.
The funeral services and other rites for the late Honorable Benjamin Lahai Karmo will be simulcast at the Calvary Temple Church, Japanese Highway, Paynesville City, Montserrado County for relatives, friends, and other sympathizers in Liberia.
Hotels & Accommodations:
Wingate by Wyndham – 4320 Glendale-Milford Rd, Cincinnati 45242 Code: KARMO - 513-733-1142
Courtyard by Marriott – 4625 Lake Forest Dr, Blue Ash 45242 Code: M-LRIQCMZ – 513-733-4334
Baymont Inn, 10900 Crown Pointe Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45241 Code: KARMO – 513-401-8750
Contacts:
Lahai Momolu Karmo – (513) 255-5760
Jane M. Karmo – (513) 225-6544
Ida Hoff-Burles – (513) 448-6949 |
