The Tarpeh, Jones, Jenkins, Toe, Barcon, Cooper, Dennis, Johnson, and David families announce with profound sadness the passing of former Ambassador, Dr. James Teah Tarpeh after a brief illness. Dr. Tarpeh passed away peacefully at the home of his daughter near Atlanta, Georgia USA, on Saturday, March 15th, while surrounded by his children.
The consummate servant of the people, Dr. Tarpeh served his beloved Liberia faithfully in multiple capacities. From his days as Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of Liberia and Political Science Professor, to his days as Ambassador to the Republics of Nigeria, Benin and Togo, and Director General of LIPA, Dr. Tarpeh blazed an enviable trail of teaching, mentoring, and development designed to shape the hearts and minds of leaders of the future to usher in a more perfect and prosperous Liberia. In the USA, Dr. Tarpeh would extend his influence globally as a Political Science expert/advisor at the prestigious ‘Think Tank’ Brookings Institute, as a Political Science Professor at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and as Political Science Professor at American and Strayer Universities. The former high scoring footballer of the Invincible Eleven Football Club was truly a man of many passions and talents who impacted the lives of thousands from West Africa to the USA and beyond.
He is predeceased by his parents, Richard Tiklo Tarpeh and Martha Gofa Blamoh, sisters Annie Tarpeh Penie, Martha Tarpeh, and his brother James ‘Dippy’ Tarpeh, and also by his surrogate parents, Father E. Bolling Robertson and Marilyn Robertson, who helped shape his early foundation and set him on a course of leadership and servanthood. To celebrate his homegoing and extend his legacy, Dr. Tarpeh leaves behind a loving family including his wife Mary Kofa Toe-Tarpeh, daughters Geraldine Tarpeh-Jones (Michael), Wilhelmina Jenkins (Barry), Elvira Tarpeh, Munah Tarpeh, his son, James Teah Tarpeh, II (Jessica), his 8 grandchildren; Kimberlee, Michael Ray, Barry II, Gerald Teah, Johrdyn, Jestina, Layla, Sidrah, James Davis Teah Tarpeh, his brother Thomas Barcon, sisters Teresa Zinnah and Gladys Tarpeh Brown, several nieces, nephews, and a host of cousins, and extended family who loved him and affectionately knew him as “Boy James”, “Doc”, “Uncle Teah”, and “Big Teah”.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
The funeral is scheduled for 10:00 am ET on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the Genesis Bible Fellowship Church in Baltimore, MD, USA at 6010 Reisterstown Rd. Funeral services will be streamed live via YouTube for all who would like to be a part of this celebration of life but may be unable to attend.
Livestream of Services available via: GBFClife.com/events
For more information, please contact :
James Teah Tarpeh II (Teah) at 470-289-7361, or
Elvira Tarpeh (Vira) at 678-772-0356
