Mrs.
Bertha E. Porte
The
Porte and Best families wish to announce the
joyful home going of Mrs. Bertha E. Porte, widow
of Albert Porte, the Liberian educator and pamphleteer
who wrote on constitutional and human rights
issues for over half a century.
Mother,
Gran, Aunt Bertha, Cousin Bertha died April
13 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law,
Cenethe and Frederick Hunder in Paynesville,
Monrovia, Liberia. She was in her 97th year.
Mrs.
Porte was born November 5, 1913 in Live Oak,
Florida, to the union of William Heathe and
Sarah Heathe. Mr. Heathe had worked with the
Methodist Mission in White Plains, near Crozierville.
Following
the death of her parents, Bertha and her siblings,
sisters Cora and Gilly, and brother Leroy, moved
to Crozierville, where Albert Porte's parents,
the Rev. Conrad C. Porte, and his wife Fredrica
cared for them. Mrs. Porte attended the former
Julia C. Emery Hall, now known as Bromley Mission,
an Episcopal school for girls in Clay Ashland.
Albert and Bertha’s courtship began on
Porte Hill in Crozierville. They were married
May 14, 1933. Their 53-year union was blessed
with 11 children. Mrs. Porte spent most of her
life as a homemaker, raising their 11 children
and many foster children, grandchildren, nieces,
nephews and cousins.
She was active in Christ Episcopal Church in
Crozierville, serving as treasurer, financial
secretary and Sunday School teacher. Mrs. Porte
enjoyed quilting and gardening.
Last year, Mrs. Porte received a posthumous
distinction on behalf of her husband Albert
Porte from Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
Mr. Porte, who died March 23, 1986, was admitted
into the Humane Order of African Redemption
with a grade of Knight Great Band.
Mrs. Porte was also predeceased by two sons,
Melvin and Ferdinand.
Mrs. Porte’s survivors include her children:
Elfric Koi-Koi(Williette); Leroy (Evelyn); Leopold
(Josephine); Coslet (Gladys); Cenethe Hunder(Frederick);
Upton(Audrey);Famatta Porte; Fredrica Morris(Wesley);
Imelda Summerville(Eddie); Koko Wallah; Moses
Wallah; and George Davies(Anna).
Mrs. Porte is also survived by more than 40
grandchildren and more than 53 great grand children.
Other survivors include her daughter-in-law
Kemah Porte (late Melvin Porte’s wife);
Muriel Best, Kenneth Best and their siblings;
Rose Marie McFarland and her siblings; Beatrice
Braithwaite Harris; and a host of other relatives
in Liberia, the United States and other parts
of the world.
Funeral Arrangements:
Wake Keeping: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, April
30, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church,
15th Street, Monrovia. The body of Mrs. Porte
will be removed from Samuel Stryker Funeral
Home in Sinkor at 5 p.m.
Funeral
Services: 10 a.m. Saturday, May 1, at Christ
Episcopal Church, Crozierville. Bishop Jonathan
Hart will officiate.
Celebration: The family invites everyone
to a party on Porte Hill to celebrate Mrs. Porte’s
life.
Contacts:
Elfric K. Porte (son): 011-231-658-2665
Imelda Summerville (daughter): 401-861-1217
Fredrica Morris (daughter): 301-841-7437
Upton Porte (son): 770-914-6964
Kenneth Y. Best (nephew):011-231-681-2888
Cenethe Hunder (daughter: 011-231-651-3277
Mina Scott (granddaughter): 770-979-7110
Tous Porte Subah (granddaughter) 612-385-1712
