Gertrude Findley

Gertrude Araminta McGill Findley was born on September 1, 1930, in the city of Monrovia (Rocktown girl), Liberia. She was the fifth child of David Lindsey McGill and Arinza Milton (from Cape Palmas, Maryland). She was predeceased by all her brothers and sisters, including Samuel David, Malvina, Edwin “Eddie”, Maria “M.L.” and Comfort. Gertrude embraced education from an early age and matriculated to Liberia College, now the University of Liberia, from which she graduated with a BA. She was the second child in her family to graduate from college. Gertrude began dating Mr. Joseph P.H. Findley from Kingsville, Grand Bassa County. After initially rejecting his advances, she accepted him a year later when her good friend Elizabeth Scott Deshields burned the wire. They were married on January 7, 1953. Among the bridesmaids were her good friends Deborah Roberts (Cooper), Makita Gurley Karnga, Theodosia Ward-Jackson and A.B. Tyler. The family moved to Lower Buchanan and Gertrude taught at Bassa High School until the children started coming. There, she made many new life-long friends including: Winnifred Brumskine, Maggie Cooper Greenfield, Mary Fleming, Jeanie Reeves Smith and Lottie Harmon, many of whom kept in touch throughout her 15 years stay in the nursing home. In the 1960’s Gertrude and Joe started “The Gertrude Poultry Farm” which they ran successfully for many years. Gertrude brought up 14 children: Sarah Malvina Jegede (Donald), Joseph P.H. Findley Jr. (Buster), Gertrude Findley-Christian (Ed), Samuel Findley (Bishop), Alice McGill (Mapoo), David Findley (Yamah), Gbezohngar Findley, Thorneycroft Findley (deceased), Berma Findley (Misty), Leah Porter (Ralph), Jebbeh Klah (Richard), Famatta Gordon, Alice Johnson-Howard and Deneah Flomo. In 1972, the family moved to Monrovia and as the children were older Gertrude went back to work as a teacher. There, she renewed acquaintances with Elizabeth Brewer, Tidi Speare-Stewart, Theodosia Ward-Jackson, Freda Barnes and others. She taught at several schools in Monrovia then moved into administration at Tubman High School. She later became Principal of G.W Gibson and ended her career as Principal of B.W Harris High School. Gertrude was the backbone of her husband in his political career and was a major asset as he served in numerous government positions including: Director of Foreign Conferences, Circuit Court Judge and Senator from Grand Bassa County. Gertrude was a wonderful mother! And, a gourmet confectioner. Her pound cakes, sweet potato pudding and pawpaw (papaya) pies were “to die for”. She loved her children so well she would have given up her own jacket for them on a cold winter night. She was not perfect, but for us there was not a better person in the world. She leaves to mourn her loss, 13 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins, and an enumerable number of friends including her “crowd” of girls like Rachel Askie-Cooper, Deborah Roberts-Cooper, Mary Fleming (Teacher Fleming), Maggie Cooper- Greenfield, Reverend Flemister and Ella Jones-Scott. A matriarch of her family and our nation at large, Gertrude leaves treasured memories and her earthly presence will be greatly missed. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed in Christ rest in eternal peace and may light perpetually shine on her!

Gertrude Findley

September 1, 1930 - November 27, 2019