Liberia: Isaac Garnett Eulogizes Wife, Children, and Grandchildren Lost in Duport Road Fires

Monrovia – In a scene filled with heartbreak, solemn hymns, and overwhelming grief, Isaac Garnet on Saturday delivered an emotional eulogy as he laid to rest his wife, children, and grandchildren who died in the tragic Duport Road fire.

---

By Francis G. Boayue 

---

Dressed in black and visibly devastated, Garnet stood before the neatly arranged white caskets — a heartbreaking symbol of a family wiped out in a single night — and struggled through tears to honor the memory of those he loved most.

“Your lives have ended, but your love lives on,” he said, his voice breaking as mourners wiped away tears around him.

While grappling with unimaginable loss, Garnet expressed a resolute reliance on his faith.

“Even with this unbearable pain, I hold God Almighty. Even though I do not understand why this happened, I trust God, who knows it all,” he said during the solemn ceremony.

He reserved a special, tender farewell for his late spouse.
“My beloved wife, thank you for being my wife and support system,” he added, reflecting on the bond they shared before the devastating fire claimed multiple generations of his family.

The late wife of the former Vice President for Fiscal Affairs at the University of Liberia, Mrs. Deiode Davies Garnett, along with her children and grandchildren — Judee, Treasure, Christopher, and Isaac — lost their lives in the tragic house fire earlier this month. They were laid to rest following a funeral service held at the Harvest Intercontinental Church in Congo Town over the weekend.

A Community in Mourning

The tragedy has sparked widespread public sympathy and intensified calls for stronger fire safety regulations and improved emergency response systems in densely populated communities like Duport Road.

Hundreds of relatives, friends, community members, and church leaders gathered at the funeral service to console Garnet and honor the victims. Many described the family as peaceful, hardworking, and deeply committed to their community.

Community elder Abraham Jallah described the tragedy as an “unbearable wound.”

“She was more than just our Chairlady; she was the mother of this community — the one who brought us together,” Jallah lamented. “To lose her and her four precious children in such a horrific way is a blow this community will struggle to recover from for a very long time.”

“This is not just Isaac’s loss — it is all of our loss,” said another family friend. “A whole generation has been taken from us.”

The emotional weight of the ceremony was unmistakable as mourners sobbed openly, some leaning on others for support.

A Tragedy That Shook the Nation

The fire, which engulfed the family’s residence in the early hours of November 12, 2025, is still under investigation. Preliminary reports suggest the blaze may have been caused by an electrical fault. The suddenness of the fire and the total loss of life have sent shockwaves throughout Paynesville and beyond.

“Minister Garnett was widely respected for her dedication to community development — often mediating disputes, organizing clean-up campaigns, and advocating for better infrastructure for the residents of Shara,” said community member James Morris.

“Today’s farewell was more than a burial; it was a collective expression of enduring love, remembrance, and the deep emotional void left by a family whose absence will be felt in every corner of the Shara Community,” he added.

Calls for Action

The tragedy has renewed conversations about fire safety, city planning, and the urgent need for government intervention to prevent similar catastrophes. Community leaders and residents are urging authorities to enforce electrical standards, improve emergency access in congested neighborhoods, and strengthen fire prevention education.