Obiturary Uncategorized

The death of an ambitious young African man in America 

James Fasuekoi

But what is there to glean from Boakai Murphy Dorley’s life?

Editor’s Note: Story has been updated.

By James Kokulo Fasuekoi|Editor-Publisher|editor@globalekklesia.com

At his homegoing Friday, Jan. 12, at Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, everyone walked out of Spiritual Life Church’s auditorium amid a state of total indignation and the gnashing of teeth with one particular question in mind-”Why did this (death) happen?”

It is a question Boakai Murphy Dorley’s family and friends have been wrestling with since his sudden death last December 8, 2023. That’s because Boakai, 44, had reached the peak of his life through hard work-a highly skillful financial expert, married with three kids, bought a new home and settled, before death snatched him away. 

Relatives and friends, moments after funeral services, gathered outside around the hearse bearing mortal remains of Boakai. All pictures by author

A native of Liberia, his life story begins from his birthplace of Bomi County, once an iron ore mining region, rich in natural minerals, which as a result, drew more fighting to the area from numerous warring factions that sought gold and diamonds in order to fuel their war during both civil wars.

But as his elder brother, Jusu Dorley would attest during the funeral, one thing became clear from Boakai’s early life-his obsession with western education, to which his young widow, high school sweetheart and lifelong partner, Deddeh Dorley confirmed. 

The deceased’s former father and mother-in-law SLC’s Deacon Fredick Winnie and his wife, Deaconess Annie Winnie, walked away with deep pain in their hearts after viewing the body.

From his graduation at St. Francis High School located in Jacob Town, a suburb of Liberia’s capital, the former banker went on to earn a Bachelor’s in Accounting and Developmental Economics at the UL. Next, he received a Master’s Degree in Developmental Economics 2015 at Campinas University, Sao Paulo, South America.

His former co-workers spoke quite warmly of him, with one Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) spokesperson describing him as “a beacon of light who would always comfort and illuminate our lives.”

Former CBL employees walked away from the stage after giving a tribute.

Also, a gentleman from Minnesota Community Care (MCC), a financial institution in Minnesota, saw Boakai as “a smart, intelligent guy”, one with a critical mind, he added, and was always ready to solve problems related to his career.

He praised the deceased saying, he knew other ways of solving complicated financial matters, and whenever he succeeded at resolving such critical issues, he would pose this question to his teammates: “Why do we do it this way in America?”      

Family of the deceased closely followed casket bearing his mortal remains to a waiting hearse.

By May 2022, at the height of the COVID, he graduated earning another master’s in accountancy from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, according to his life sketch, distributed at the funeral.

It said, Dorley served as vice president of finance at Minnesota Community Care, a place he helped raised up to $4 million in capital for that organization before his passing. 

Mourners at the funeral services held at Spiritual Life Church. Seated front roll third from left with black hat is late Boakai’s widow, Mrs. Deddeh Dorley, and with son Anderick next to her right.
JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE!

In the years he worked at the CBL, he played supervisory roles-from bank examiner to being head of supervision and surveillance teams, while conducting audits and generating commercial banks profiles. 

Most educated people nowadays, per our probe, who find themselves well-off financially, tend to “play God.” But Boakai’s case seemed exceptional, in that he loved God and was “a God-fearing man”, according to his son, Anderick Dorley, 23. 

Anderick Dorley, center, wearing a black winter hat, stands next to the hearse earing the remains of his father, moments before they headed to the cemetery.

It is reported he was a member of the John Wesley Ministry in Liberia (his home church), and did visit and support other ministries. 

Anderick said his late father was also a sports lover and a fan of Pele. He had deep interest in politics and was said to often engage his friends in “endless debates about politics in Liberia.”