Cecelia “Old Lady” Makor Premy

Cecelia “Old Lady” Makor Premy passed away Saturday, March 20th, 2021 in Providence, RI after a brief bout with illness at the age of 75.Cecelia was born on July 26th, 1945 in Farvey, Liberia to Suah and Nema Makor. Cecelia and Peace Corps Volunteer, Stan Premy, were married by Reverend Ronald “Borbor Ray” Diggs at St Peter’s Lutheran Church in Sinkor, Liberia in 1970.  When the couple moved to Rhode Island in 1971, Cecelia became one of the first Native Liberians to settle in Providence, Rhode Island. After establishing a home for herself, she began the journey of bringing her large extended family stateside. She is partly responsible for the large Liberian presence in RI.Years later she would set another precedent when she opened the first African restaurant in Providence, Cecelia’s West African Restaurant. “Cecelia’s” would become an integral part of the restaurant and nightlife scene in Providence for many years. Cecelia’s introduced Providence to West African culture and Liberian cuisine.  Under the guidance of DJ Donald McDonald, Cecelia’s became the first bar to host a reggae night in Rhode Island. Cecelia also had a lengthy career working as an IPA at the John Pastore Medical Center in Cranston. Affectionately known as “Premy” and beloved by her co-workers, she made many lifelong friends in her years at the medical center. An expert in African Traditional Dance, she was awarded a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation to teach African dance. After her retirement in 2010, Cecelia started the Makor Dancing Feet Culture Troop. Always community-minded, she recruited her own nieces and nephews, and other local children to introduce Liberian Culture dance to RI. The dance troupe performed at the Providence Performing Art Center, appeared at International Day at RISD and Brown University, danced in a major motion picture starring Wesley Snipes, and performed for former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, among other accomplishments.Cecelia was a consummate story-teller. She loved to laugh and make fun. She also loved adventure and was a world traveler. Her list of friends extends across the globe. You could always find her in a bright outfit with a bright smile to match. Cecelia is preceded in death by daughter Sylvia Premy, brothers Dolo Makor, John B. Makor, Frank F. Makor Sr, James D. Makor, Francis D. K. Makor Sr., Paye-Paye Makor, Cammue Bomono Makor, Benjamin Makor, Kollie Suah Owah, Arthur Makor, and Paye Makor, and sisters Lorpu Menlikia-Makor, Nowai Koliwoe Makor, Kebeh Monopeli Cooper, Gormah Makor, Torwon Labanue, and Mai Makor Diggs. She is lovingly remembered by brother Alfred W. Makor, sisters Lucelia Watler and Sarah Abourjeily, daughters Mona and Marjay Abourjeily, and sons William, Nicolas, and Michael Abourjeily, and Samuel S. Paye, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends.