Last Saturday, the tenth of September 2016, brought to end your physical presence on this treacherous planet-a month, since the news of your passing was formally announced. Thirty days with us, even after you’ve departed this world, is an attestation that we did not want you to leave.

But again, before you, zillions have died and the blessed ones, you included, are believed to have their souls in outer space. Lawrence, I am not going to try to coin the words to express exactly what your colleagues and family members are going through on account of your passing.

Even with the notice you did serve all of us, it is still traumatic and heart-rending. The void left is irreplaceable! The kids have been given lethal doses- a superhero vanished in plain view and will never be found!
You did describe the bond between you and your kids that surgery morning.

The tears poured and your quivering voice said a million words, Lawrence. You did not want to sleep but again, the medical protocols were instructive-you were to be artificially placed to bed. For five long arduous months, I saw you showcase a survival instinct-battling an unknown enemy.

Even after experienced medical practitioners rendered a verdict of a perceived inability to come back from your bed, you defied their validation and starting breathing again without an aid. You gave hope and as soon as we started believing you, there was a relapse! Prayers came from every corner but again, He had other plans.

We had big dreams, Randall. Humongous as they seemed, we had formulae to achieve them. I should be celebrating the completion of your graduate school work but here I am trying to evoke sentiments leading to teary eyes.

The plan, you know, was not in public sector governance anymore-except that we were constrained by agreements landing us at Georgetown. Our first joint consultancy with the Brookings Institution was a bomb.

“This is a high quality paper those graduate students have written…” a senior executive wrote in an e-mail.

Our response, in our parlance was, “Jehh give our cheque to us paco, you think we jehh graduate students…”  That contract  reinforced the commitment, that we could do it together outside the public sphere. TLaw, I can’t still fathom why you were chosen as that perfect candidate to leave this place. Your thoughts were just so remarkable -always with a zillion plans!

You were an academic-I know so! Even those who opposed you knew. You did leave indelible prints. I do read your peer-reviewed submissions. You know we did not agree on everything but I appreciated that we talked about yours and mine.

In you, Randall, I’ve lost someone with a sublime interest in social calisthenics. Your smiles and humorous citations will be missed. Bukon Café, Adam Morgans-in the heart of DC, will always remain with me.

I joined other colleagues to bid you goodbye last Saturday but your humble voice will remain with me and forever. Goodbye Lawrence!

M. Boakai Jaleiba, Jr.,  Assistant Minister, Vocational & Technical Training
Ministry of Youth and Sports
231 (555/770) – 569729

My heart is broken. I am in a state of cold horror. Everything seems to be without value, life included. I feel a kind of frigid numbness. I am still trying hard to wrap my mind around this finality. His death has changed my perception of life, even my relationship with myself.

I am nearly twice his age. I got sick with stage 4 cancer – one year and a few months ago. My doctors announced that I would die in days. My family and friends prayed.

I survived. I am still alive, able to work and do some of the activities that I like the best – reading and writing. The same activities Lawrence loved equally.

One of the young people who prayed for me and always kept in contact was Lawrence Randall. I saw him early this year in Monrovia. He was excited to see me. He cheered me on to speedy recovery. We laughed and hugged. I was grateful.

When I heard of his illness I felt so badly. He was in coma and I could not talk to him. I prayed ceaselessly for him. His death has caused me gut wrenching pain and grief. I want to accept his death as a part of life – to comfort myself. But then again, it is just too difficult to believe that he died just too young.

He will be remembered for his intelligence, sufficiently displayed in both his professional and personal life. Lawrence died just too young. But we all know that his achievements exceeded his age. He was the founder of the Liberia Media Center.

I recall when he and others established the Capitol Magazine, and the assortment of media outlets that have emerged from it. I was asked to write an article for the maiden publication. I did so willingly.

He had the sheer human spirit of a maverick – a man with fire in his belly to defy the odds: whether it is poverty, other life challenges – he beat them.

He was introduced to me many years back by a mutual friend, Wynfred Russell. When Wynfred called me to announce Lawrence’s death, he was equally broken as I feel as I write this tribute. We lost a good friend.

It will never make sense that a man so brilliant, so full of aspiration, and on his way to greater things in life would die when he was beating life’s odds and achieving his dreams.

His death has forced me to ask: “Do we still need to plan, hope, and dream that tomorrow will be better when all these things could be snatched by death so suddenly?”

I am shattered. I am hurt. But then again, I find comfort that Lawrence touched so many of us, and he continued to do so in sick bed and thereafter. Yes! He wants us to grieve, but he wants us to keep looking for greater heights in our personal and professional lives. He made his life to count. I am sure he wants each of our lives to count as well.

Little brother, you taught us to look forward. Through this old guy and many other young people, you will continue to live. But somehow, in my delusion, it still feels like the journey you took to go to graduate school has not ended. I am still wondering when you will come back.

By Emmanuel Dolo

Monrovia – Within the scope of three days, Liberians are mourning the death of three known individuals.

Monday, Army Deputy Chief of Staff Eric Dennis succumbed to death after a period of illness leaving many in a state of sorrow.

Again on Tuesday, former River Gee County Senator Nathaniel Williams the man credited with pushing for the establishment of River Gee as a county died in Monrovia.

Late Wednesday, news surfaced about the death of Lawrence Randall who worked to develop the Liberian media before moving on to serve as media consultant to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. 

Senator Matthew Jay River Gee County says, he hopes the   death of the former River Gee Senator Williams will serve as a unifier amongst citizens and leaders of the county specifically the County Caucus which he is a part is of.

In a Telephone interview with FrontPageAfrica, Senator Jay said, the death news of the fallen Senator is shocking news that has stalled activities in the County.

“As I speak to people are mourning the death of a Fallen Hero, stores and shops   shutdown at midday today in honor of our fallen leader”, he said.

He described him (Williams) is one of the falling fathers of River-Gee County who worked hard to lead River Gee to a County status.

“We are hurt and don’t know how to put it we have lost a great son, the people of River Gee will always remember him”, said Senator Jay.

The late Williams served his County as one of their first two Senators in the 52^nd National legislature but lost to Conmany Wesseh during the 2014 special Senatorial elections.

The former River Gee Senator was very vocal in handling issues; his stance was most times entertaining on local radio stations in Monrovia and his home County River Gee where he was always narrative in his utterances.

Mr. Togar Lawrence Randall, one of the pioneering founders of the Liberian Media Center has died.

Mr. Randall was pronounced dead Wednesday at the Georgetown University Hospital where he had been undergoing medical care for several months. He was 38.

“He took the organization from a one-room office in the Press Union of Liberia to where it is now,” says Attorney Lamii Kpargoi, the organization’s current director.

Kpargoi said the LMC is devastated by the passing of its founding executive director. “The organization and Liberia have lost a great person. Our prayers are with his family.

Mr. Randall previously worked as a Senior Communication Officer of the National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (NCDDR), under his leadership and direction, the LMC rapidly developed into a vibrant media development support institution that has made concrete impact on the shape of the media landscape.”

The LMC, a media advocacy and development organization that began operations in 2006 and  has been involved in many activities and peer review confronting a number of critical issues underpinning media development in the country. The organization has also played a key role in raising awareness on the need for media development inclusion in the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Conducting over a dozen small scale workshops and a multi-year community radio empowerment project, he has provided intellectual leadership in sourcing further support for media development, including accessing a number of new grant opportunities for the LMC. 

As LMC head, Mr. Randall managed the day-to-day activities and oversaw the media organization’s overall program strategy and direction.

At his farewell dinner from the LMC in 2014, Mr. Bill Burke, Chief of Party of the International Research and Exchanges Board-Liberia (IREX-Liberia) paid homage to Randall’s LMC legacy. “”Looking at the big picture of sustaining peace and democracy in Liberia, we all can say that Lawrence means well for Liberia.”

Mr. Randall, who assumed the post as Executive Director of the LMC in 2006 and stepped down in a bid to explore new challenges.

Friends, well-wishers and media peers showered praise on the fallen media icon’s Facebook page Wednesday.

 “Liberia has lost a scholar and brain. May his soul rest in peace. RIP comrade Lawrence Randall. Your task on this earth is over. Condolences to the family especially my big brother Augustus Pinton Randall”, Dwana B’Akongo Sesay wrote.

Another Liberia, former Press Union of Liberia Secretary General, D Kaihenneh Sengbeh wrote “And Lawrence Randall, too?

RIP Brother. God knows why at this time … A terrific blow to the Liberian media and media development in our country…..”

Mackelolo Dagoseh Kelkeh Metzger wrote “Almost hard to believe that a friend, brother and colleague Lawrence Randall is dead. People have been withholding information regarding Lawrence health; no one really said anything about what the problem was.

This is heartbreaking and a very sad day for Liberians and people in the media business. I am going to stay away from joining others to say that you are dead.

What has happened Lawrence? What happened? Why now, why so soon bro? I still have a message from you right here on my phone. This cannot be true. Someone please say this is not true!!!! Ay Lawrence!”

“Indeed you were a brother and a good friend; you were my partner and my very close brother.

May the almighty God grant you eternal REST RIP Lawrence Randall you were a true compatriot” Robert Ernest Wilson also wrote.

Patrick M’bayo who has been writing get well messages for Randall also wrote “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion, and to help others.

These you did so diligently. Your body carried a very gentle and selfless soul. That’s why it’s very hard for us to accept that you’re no more. But again, we’re consoled by the fact that God loves you best. You will truly be missed! Rest in peace my Hoya brother Lawrence Randall!”

“Wow, once again, it’s sad to see Liberia lost another eminent son. Rest in peace brother Randall, your memory on earth will be indelible”, Cyrus Zaway.

“We will describe the torrid journey later on, Lawrence Randall. For now, we’ve opted to dwell with teary eyes. Sleep on!!!, Boakai Jaleiba.

Dashward Wumah lamented: “Your death has created a vacuum in my heart. I remembered our days in the students struggle at the University of Liberia. When we both took on the Student Unification party,(SUP) under the historic political palava hut. Comrade Lawrence Randall, your eloquence was unmatched and your vision to unseat the Student Unification Party was unwavering.”

Alfred Togba lamented: “I’m devastated! Wow! A great hero has fallen. Rip Lawrence Randall, you are gone but your irreparable memory is unforgettable.”