Monrovia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has paid tribute to the late Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, Dr. Edward B. McClain, Jr. describing him as a patriot, brother, confidante and loyal public servant.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf was speaking on Monday when she led hundreds – including the Legislature, the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia, the Dean and Members of the Cabinet, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, family, relatives, sympathizers and mourners and read a “letter Bobbin” during the Funeral Service of her fallen Chief of Office Staff at the Providence Church on Ashmum Street, Monrovia.
President Sirleaf recounted the passionate religious upbringing of the late Dr. McClain, which significantly informed his sense of servitude, altruism, loyalty and dedication to duty. She referred to the deceased as irreplaceable and praised him for his sacrifices spanning over 18 years of working together in the service of humanity.
She acknowledged his great and witty sense of humor and the level of professionalism and diligence that characterized his work. The Liberian leader said Dr. McClain would be missed as someone who goes beyond the call of duty to do the most exceptional thing.
Earlier, a Special Presidential delegation led by the Chief of Office Staff to Ivorian President Alassane Quarrata, conferred on Dr. Edward B. McClain, Jr. that country’s Highest National Honor for his patriotism, devotion and loyalty in the service of mankind. Mr. Marcel Tannoh – on behalf of the Ivorian leader praised Dr. McClain as a man endowed with wisdom and unmatched intellectual agility.
Paying tribute on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Liberia, the Dean and Foreign Minister, Hon. Marjon Kamara recalled the distinguished legacy of the late Dr. Edward B. McClain’s history especially his life in public service, his humorous therapeutic interventions aimed at tranquilizing situations, a man of humility who saw everybody as somebody as well as a quite thoughtful gentleman who went about his work as meticulously as necessary.
Several tributes in memory of the late Dr. McClain also came from foreign government, institutions of state, religious, social groupings from across the country as well as the Presidents of France and South Africa.
It can be recalled that Dr. Edward B. McClain, Jr. died in his 72nd year on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 2:25A.M. Central African Time at the Wilgers Life Hospital in Lynwood, Pretoria, South Africa. The deceased was born on November 18, 1944 and died July 23, 2016 following a period of illness.
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