Apr 30, 2009
by J. Cholo Brooks / Senior Staff Writer

Remains of Chief Justice Gbalazen lying in state
Former Liberian Chief Justice, Emmanuel Ny an Gbalazeh who died two weeks ago following a pro tracted illness at a local hospital in Monrovi a was over weekend buried in his home county administrative headquarter, Sanniquellie, Nimba  County with several organizations, including the Supreme Court of Liberia and the Liberia Bar Association.

Friends and relatives of the remains in their respective tributes lauded the leadership role he played in bringing about unity in their county over the years, and urged legal practitioners who hailed from the county to emulate the legacy of the late Emmanuel Nyan Gbalazeh; who made his marks in the unification of the people of Nimba County.

For his part, the Vice President of Liberia, Joseph Nyama Boakai, who proxy for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf also paid tribute to the late University of Liberia law professor, describing him as a man of virtues, who played his part positively in bringing about changes in the lives of many young people of the country during his life time.

During the funeral, several dignitaries from both the private and public sectors in their selective tributes praised the late former Chief Justice for his fearless role in the dispensation of justice and the rule of law during his days at the Supreme Court.

Many of the University of Liberia law school students where served as their professor at the funeral also showed gratitude to their fallen instructor who they said was not only their professor but also played the role like a father during his tutoring over the years.

A family tribute read by the oldest son of the diseased, Saye Gbalazeh tearfully said “Our father largely educated himself – initially from the St. Mary’s Elementary School in Sanniquellie and then on to Monrovia where he completed the St. Patrick’s High School. He later went to the University of Liberia for his undergraduate and Law Degrees. As a determined young man then he worked hard to pay his fees through school; and through all of this hard work and perseverance our father was a very proud and accomplished man, who started his life “From a very humble beginning”, Saye Gbalazeh in a mourning voice during the reading the family tribute noted.

Saye who is also a US based Attorney-At-Law reading the family tribute further said despite what their father went through to realizing his dream for quality education, his faith and belief in education never waivered, as he went on giving equality opportunity to all his children to gain such level of quality education up to the highest level.

Speaking to this writer immediately after the burial of their father, Ms. Dounnisei Kou Gbalazeh said the legacy of their father will forever lives on, “Our father was a fine legal practitioner who was admired by everyone; we will indeed follow his footsteps to have those things that he left untouched to be accomplished”, Ms. Gbalazeh who is also Attorney-At-Law in the United States of America asserted.

Other tributes came from the Muslim Communty of Liberia, the Trial Judges Association of Liberia, 9.