He will Be Missed

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 First published in March 2011

“He was youthful and dynamic. Throughout his life he displayed human, demeanor, and dedication to building Liberia’s international relations and foreign policy and to the African Union as a team member he made valuable contributions within the special context in which the continent’s history was evolving.” Pres. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf





He will Be Missed
‘Liberia Has Lost A repository A Knowledge and Experience’
Says Pres. Sirleaf In Tribute To T. Ernest Eastman
Wade C.L. Williams

“He was youthful and dynamic. Throughout his life he displayed human, demeanor, and dedication to building Liberia’s international relations and foreign policy and to the African Union as a team member he made valuable contributions within the special context in which the continent’s history was evolving.” Says Pres. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as she paid tribute to fallen veteran diplomat, T. Ernest Eastman the man who witnessed it all, from the liberation of African nations from the clutches of colonialism to the ending of apartheid in South Africa.  
On Saturday March 26, 2011, the body of T. Ernest as he was affectionately called by family and friends was laid to rest at his family cemetery in Township of Crozierville.















Pres. Sirleaf noted that during his early years of service to Liberia in the 1960’s which was the decade of Africa, the period following the second world war during which Africa was finding its place in world politics and struggling to fan off the shackles of colonialism and other vices that precluded equal rights for the people of an emerging Africa. The Liberian leader said at that time the continent was faced with threats of colonialism, apartheid and racism.
She described the fallen diplomat as active, jovial and accommodating someone who quickly grew under the able tutelage of Secretary of State J. Rudolph Grimes and continued to shape Liberia’s foreign policy since five decades ago.
“T. Ernest until his demise made his contributions and left his imprints on the formulation and development of Liberia’s foreign policy and the shaping of Africa’s quest for Unity. He spent many years working in this direction and remained dedicated to the cause of African Unity. His mark is distinctly imprinted in the Charter of the African Union then the Organization of African Unity,” says Pres. Sirleaf.
Continued the nation’s chief executive:“T. Ernest spent his life working for Liberia and working for Africa. His dedication Knowledge and experience were recognized by all governments during his life-time to the extent that he served each and everyone in one official capacity or the other. With his passing Liberia has lost a repository of knowledge and experience. He was a long serving public servant, serving his country, the region, the continent and the world in so many capacities, promoting African Unity and Africa’s development. He will be missed. I must say I am deeply saddened by the death of this noble Liberian statesman.”
The late Honorable T. Ernest Eastman was one of Liberia’s longest serving Diplomats, during his service to the country, the late Eastman headed and represented the State and People of the Republic of Liberia, on special mission, in several capacities of trust with honesty, including: Member, official visit of President Tubman the President of the United States of America, 1961; leader, Special  mission of the Republic of Liberia to the Presidents of the Republic of Dahomey, now Benin and Niger, 1964; Special representative of Liberia to the Independence of the Gambia, 1965; Special Representative of the President of Liberia to the Republic of Ivory Coast, 1968; Special Mission of the President of Liberia to the President of the Republic of Syria and the Arab Republic of Egypt, 1969; Special Representative of the President of Liberia to the President of the Republic of Guinea, 1967, 1969 and 1970 respectively.
Under Secretary Eastman accompanied President Tubman on most of his State visits, including one to President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and to President Lyndon Johnson in 1968.
The Deceased also participated in many conferences, representing the Government in several capacities of trust with loyalty.
Ambassador Eastman wrote several books including: “A History of the State of Maryland in Liberia (1957)” and “A History of Liberia” which was unpublished, as well as articles in The Daily Listener from his column: Views and Opinion on International Affairs and other newspaper publications in Monrovia. The late Ambassador Theophilus Ernest Eastman was decorated by several Governments.
He leaves to mourn his  children: Mrs. Williette Eastman-Holder, Mrs. Cathrine Eastman-Houstan, Mrs Kumba Eastman-McCritty, Mr. Nathan Theophilus Eastman, Mr. Oscar Eastman, Mrs. Malaikai Eastman-Thompson, Master Diamond Eastman and Ms. Angel Eastman; ten (10) grand children: Master Henry D. Mayson, Jr. Mrs. Marthaline Mayson-Nyafor, Ernestine Mayson, Aminata Sarnor, Chassidy Houston, Darius Eastman, Clara Eastman, Reed Eastman, Nathan Eastman Jr. and Natlin Eastman; six (6) great grandchildren: Samuel T. Mayson, Henry T. Mayson, Henry T. Mayson, Nathusline M. Nyafor, Nathus N. Nyafor, Jr. Curtis  Mayson and Charles F. Fahnbulleh, II; two sisters: Bernice and Emerline; one brother: Alvin Eastman; Nices, Nephews cousins and a host of other relatives and friends in Liberia and abroad. 


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