Judge Luvenia Victoria Ash-Thompson

LIBERIA LOSES A LEGAL LUMINARY AND DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31(KJV)

The Ash and Thompson families announce with deep sorrow the passing of our beloved Judge Luvenia Victoria Ash-Thompson, who peacefully departed this life, November 10, 2025 in Frederick, Maryland, surrounded by her loved ones.

Judge Ash-Thompson leaves behind a legacy of love, strength and devotion. Judge Ash-Thompson led a remarkable life of service to her country, Liberia, which she ably served as Judge of the Monthly and Probate Court for eight years. A trailblazer, Judge Ash-Thompson was also the first female to hold several key positions in the executive branch of government, including Acting Minister of Labor, Assistant Minister of Labor for Labor Standards, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, and Legal Advisor to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, now the Ministry of Agriculture. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company. She had the distinction of serving as Legal Advisor to Dr. Amos Sawyer in his capacity as President of the Interim Government of National Unity.

The late Judge Ash-Thompson also held prominent positions in academia, including Assistant Professor of Law, and the first female Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia where she had the privilege of teaching five of Liberia’s chief justices, who all affectionately called her “Prof.” Additionally, she served as Vice President for Administration/Resource Mobilization of the University of Liberia.

In 1985, Judge Ash-Thompson established a private school, the Ash-Thompson Memorial

Academy (ATMA), in honor of her late husband James Lormer Thompson Sr., and her late father

James Benjamin Ash. ATMA’s motto is “Academic Excellence and Integrity” which embodies

the very thing she stood for throughout her life. She always stated that the Ash-Thompson Memorial Academy will be her lasting legacy.

Judge Ash-Thompson was born on July 16 in Brewerville, Montserrado County, Liberia, to the union of James Benjamin Ash and Theresa Rebecca Anderson-Ash. She attended Lott Carey Baptist Mission before matriculating to the United Sates, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree, Magna Cum Laude in Political Science and Speech, from Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana. She obtained her Bachelor of Law degree and a Juris Doctor degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, graduating with honors as the only black female in her class.

Judge Luvenia Ash-Thompson was predeceased by her parents, her husband, James Lormer Thompson, her son James Lormer Thompson II (Jimmy), her siblings Susan Rebecca Ash-Divine, Dinah Ash, Ida Ash-Cooper, Eudora Ash, Boima K. Sando, and Evelyn Ash-Curry. She leaves to mourn her death her daughters Jimrevenia Mala Thompson, Yatta U. Thompson Quire (Robert), her grandchildren, Quortney V.E. Moulton, Benjamin A. Thompson, Gregory K. Quire, Xenia M. Quire, Sydney M. Thompson, her sister Angeline Ash-Darwin (Philip), several nieces, and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends around the world.

Celebration Arrangements are as follows:

FUNERAL SERVICES:

Friday, December 12, 2025

Family Visitation 9-9:30 am

Funeral Service 9:30-11:30am

First Missionary Baptist Church

6430 Jefferson Pike

Frederick, Maryland 21703

Live Stream:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1D45uTMYNB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

INTERMENT

Resthaven Memorial Gardens