D.E.S. Kandakai
To further reflect on the life and legacy of my second mother, Mrs. Kathryn Urey White, I would like to use a framework developed by Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis who largely viewed human beings from their being in possession of their dignity or being or existing without dignity.
Michael Kpakala Francis said and believed that many people were or are not accorded the dignity they deserve as human persons.
For Archbishop Michael Francis, the dignity of the human person was both sacrosanct and for the Archbishop who many considered the conscience of the Liberian society, the dignity of each human being was everything that mattered when it came to that person. Archbishop Francis postulated that each person came about through what he called formation, a process of ideally, integrating the likeness of Christ into that person.
For him, each human person had several to many factors that contributed to her/his formation. In so doing he formulated that each person or human being grew or developed in her/his formative years, through schooling, parental, pastoral care, etc.
In social sciences there is also what is known as the formative and what constitute the summative period. It is in this light that I am now doing a second tribute for Mame Grand, the first one being in the souvenir funeral program of over forty pages (July 11, 2026), to elaborate on the details presented in this souvenir document.
The reason for doing a second tribute to this great person is not only does she merit further consideration and honor, but her decision to have her remains brought home to be buried near her Dad, the late Robert Douglas Urey, in the form and fashion which it was done was both spectacular and solemn.
To receive and/escort the body at the great entry point of the RIA was unforgettable and this was followed by a convoy to town. The funeral souvenirprogram contained the tributes of many sisters, brothers, children, friends, even corroborating what was said by relatives and the public who assured us that Mame Grand had a formation that began in her circle at the Urey home in the city of Careysburg, took her to the Bromley Episcopal Girls School, in Virginia where many Liberian girls went to, and thenonto the esteemed College of West Africa where she graduated in 1953. This mean that she was attached to the teaching and ways of many her family churches such as the Episcopal Church at Bromley, the Presbyterian Church of Liberia, and finally to the Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia and thereafter to Mount Galilee Baptist ChurchCareysburg, in later life, both of her husband, Deacon Albert T. White.
The Liberian Civil War, nearly disrupted her church life in Liberia but she was able to reconnect with other churches in the United States that were elaborated on by the funeral service in the United States at the ELIM Lutheran Church of Robbinsdale, Minnesota on June 26th and 27th of June which gave opportunities to many who attended and followed at the edifice to display her love for others throughfamily and friends.
These were shown by Mame’s journey from Careysburg to Bromley to Monrovia to Zwedru, to the United States, where she earlier taught Sunday School, headed a circle of the Baptist Women Ministry known as the Priscilla Circle, taught Sunday School and Kindergarten and brought up many children. These could all be considered part of her formative years. She worked at quilting over the years to make it a life time occupation and a labor of love.
She had a connection to Mrs. Dewalt of the FAWE Bensonville Women’s Club and thus contributed to making quilting a life-long Liberian occupation that has stood the test of time for many Liberians.
And here is what we must make much of this “membelleh” on the lifelong-achievements of Kathryn Urey White who, summarily, effortlessly it seemed was a great woman, a greatness in love, care and relating to each individual’s dignity and to respect for the human person, to the individual as the prelate Kpakala indicated. Though she did not growup with a silver spoon in her mouth, she was one who gave dignity to many by just caring for them and that is why the school Family Nursery and Kindergarten Center made June 3rd her birthday as its Gala day, and has a Motto, “where each child matters”.
It must be said though that both her mother Mrs. Anna Lynch Urey, and her grandmother Mrs. MatildaDeputie, who were outstanding examples of the power and legacy of love, which she Kathryninherited and passed on had influences on her persona.
Mame Grand or as she asked or requested her grandchildren to call her, was NOT only the only Urey that lived the longest to the ripe old age ofabout 96 years old, but she truly epitomized giving special attention to people, to children, to ALL as her life’s story depicts.
If we must “learn lessons” as Dr. Amos Sawyeravowed, we must “Membelleh”, showcase, display, preach and practice her virtues of caring for others, we must “membelleh” mothering as she did, we must not make children last, but make them first as Mamewanted. We must not NOT bury Mame Grand’s legacy of love, but we must bring it on home to Mt. Galilee, to Careysburg, to Liberia and beyond.
