Al Gbi Toe, Sr. a.k.a Toe Blamo Gbi

‘And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!” – Revelation 14:13

With deep sorrow and profound sadness, the Nyepan Munah Gbi Toe and the Jappah Nimely and Jappah Nyanfor families of Grand Cess, Grand Kru County announce the death of Mr. Al Gbi Toe, Sr. (a.k.a. Toe Blamo Gbi) of Newark, New Jersey, USA. This sad event occurred on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at the Jefferson Health Hospital in Washington Township, New Jersey following a brief illness.

Al Gbi Toe, Sr. was born on January 5, 1956, in Grand Cess, Grand Kru County (then Kru Coast Territory, Maryland County) Liberia, West Africa unto the union of J. Blamo Toe and Comfort Duwli Dueh Toe. He attended J.T. Nimley Kindergarten School and P.G. Wollo Elementary School in Grand Cess; Sumo Kota Public School in Fisebu, Lofa County; St. Patrick’s High School in Monrovia; and graduated from Our Lady of Fatima High School in Harper, Maryland County in 1974. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology (Minor in Economics) in 1979 from the University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia; and thereafter matriculated to the New School for Social Research (now called the New School University) in New York in the United States from where he completed the requirements for a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies in 1982 and also pursued post-graduate studies in Anthropology between 1983 and 1985. Over the years, the late Al Gbi Toe, Sr. earned multiple postgraduate certificates, including in International Trade from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (1984); Marketing & Sales from New York University Graduate School of Business (1985); and Tourism Promotion from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Economic Development Services (2004).

The late Al Gbi Toe, Sr. had extensive professional experience. In Liberia, he served as Personnel Manager of the Liberia Sugar Corporation (1980-1981); and prior to this time, he was adjunct lecturer in Rural Sociology at the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts, teaching assistant in the Sociology and Anthropology Department of the University of Liberia, and a teacher for the Monrovia Consolidated School System at the Martha Tubman Memorial Academy and King Botswain Junior High School. His employment history in the United States was equally exemplary, beginning with the Harlem International Trade Institute of the Harlem Urban Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the State of New York Urban Development Corporation, where he worked from 1982 to 1996 in various positions. Between 1996 and 2002, he was Vice President at Balozi & Associates and Principal Consultant for The Amadis Corporation, and afterwards secured employment with the County of Essex in New Jersey where he worked until his untimely passing. During his tenure with the local government, he served in various capacities in the Essex County Office of Cultural Diversity and Affirmative Action and the Essex County Economic Development Corporation.

The late Al Gbi Toe, Sr. made immense contributions to his community through his professional engagements. He was Facilitator & Report Writer for the Pre-White House Conference on Aging, Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone of New York City; Staff Director of the Essex County Disparity Study; voluntary Special Assistant to the President of the World Conference of Mayors and Facilitator of the Conference’s International Leadership Meeting that took place in Equatorial Guinea in 2012; and Secretary of the New Jersey State Delegation to the National Summit on Africa in Washington, DC. For his outstanding performance in these roles as well as that of Twinning Cities Facilitator, the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials conferred the prestigious Nelson Mandela Leadership Award on the late Al Gbi Toe, Sr. in 2017.

The late Al Gbi Toe, Sr, was affiliated with and held positions in numerous Pan-African, American, and Liberian organizations. In Liberia, he held leadership roles in the Maryland University Student Association, University of Liberia Student Union, Liberia National Students Union, SUSUKUU, and the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA). He also served as Editor of Gweh Fei Kpeh news organ of the Liberians for Democratic Action; and Editor of the Cradle Magazine, a Pan-African governance and development issues publication in the United States. He was instrumental in the formation of the National Krao Association in the Americas (1990); Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Grand Kru County Development Association in the Americas; and former Director (1984 – 1986) and National President of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), 1990-1991.

Above all was his devout dedication and service to the Catholic faith, having been Baptized at the St. Patrick’s Church in Grand Cess where he also received the Holy Communion and was Confirmed. He was a Lay Leader, Pastoral Associate, Financial Council Chair and Ex-Officio Member of the Parish Council of the Catholic Parish of the Transfiguration comprising St. Ann and St. Rocco churches in Newark, New Jersey where he co-organized the Knights of St. John International Commandery #960 and served as the first Worthy President from December 2019 to December 2022; National Adviser, Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church for the US Conference of Bishops; Member of the Board of Directors of the Africa Faith & Justice Network; Member of the Advisory Commission of the African American, African and Caribbean Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark; National Executive Board Member and Regional Coordinator for New Jersey and Pennsylvania of the National Association of African Catholics in the United States; and he assisted the Conference of Liberian Catholic Bishops’ USA Mission Office hosted by the Society of African Missionaries (SMA) of Tenafly, New Jersey who founded the Catholic Church in Liberia in 1906.

The numerous professional affiliations of the late Al Gbi Toe, Sr. included the American Anthropological Association; Society for Economic Anthropology; American Sociological Association; American Economic Association; American Communication Association; Public Relations Society of America; National Alliance of Community Economic Development Association; National Association of Nonprofit Professionals; and National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.

The late Al Gbi Toe, Sr. leaves to mourn his two children, Al Gbi Toe, Jr. and Natasha Miehdi Toe, and his former wife, Asenath B. Gibson; siblings Regina Wehtee Toe Gaye, Josephine Juwrehdi Smallwood (Ben), Dr. J. Chris Toe (Jeannine), Khloe Toe, Francis Wreh Toe, Stanley Nimley Toe, Siemo Toe (Josephine), Patricia Fano Toe Reeves (Charles), Mensah Toe, Duwli Toe; close cousins and relatives Augusta Blapoh Toe Marsh (Ishmael), Brigid Toe Sheriff (Stanley), Atty. Philomena Williams (George), Teplah Toe Wesseh, Munah Sieh Brown, Laura Harris Nagbe, Teplah Mulbah, Joseph Nimene Toe, Mary Torh Bropleh, J. Nyanfor Toe, Elizabeth Gbeh Hodges and Dr. Elizabeth Davis Russell; and a host of relatives in the United States, Liberia and other parts of the world.

The late Al Gbi Toe, Sr. was predeceased by his parents, J. Blamo Toe, former Supervisor of Schools, Kru Coast Territory (now Grand Kru County) and Comfort Duwli Dueh Toe; brother and sister, Basil Kroteh Toe and Barbara Kukor Toe, respectively; and other faithful departed uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces, cousins and family members.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
Vigil Mass for the Deceased (wake), Al Gbi Toe, Sr. will be held on Friday, June 30, 2023 @ 4:30 pm, at The Catholic Parish of the Transfiguration (Archdiocese of Newark), 103 16^th Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07103. Viewing of the body and paying of tributes will take place.

Holy Mass for the Repose of the Soul of the late Al Gbi Toe, Sr. will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Archdiocese of Newark, 89 Ridge Street, Newark, New Jersey 07104. Doors to the Cathedral will be opened at 9:00 am, and Mass will start at 10:00 am. There will be no viewing of the body at the Mass, and only family tributes will be paid.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION (US)

Please take advantage of special rates ($119 + tax per night) at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey for June 29 through July 1, 2023. Send email to sdeen@rthotel.com and call 973 622 1000 using code Toe Family to reserve your room. The cut-off date to receive special rate is June 18, 2023, but reservations may still be made after June 18 at the regular hotel rates. Other special arrangements by the hotel are airport pickup; group transportation to and from the wake, funeral and repast; and car parking at $20 per day (24 hours) with multiple exits and entries.

Special Family Request: Please send copies of videos and pictures of the late Al Gbi Toe, Sr, you may have to the family at inlovingmemoryofalgbitoesr@gmail.com for possible inclusion in the program.

May the soul of our father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend rest in eternity!

Family Contact Persons: