Tribute to Ms. Vickie Ward: A Brilliant Mind Gone Too Soon

By Gabriel I.H. Williams

In the Holy Bible, the book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verses 1-2 says: “To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die ..” Verse 4 of Chapter 3 also tells us that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”

At this present time, family, loved ones, friends, former co-workers, as well as scores of many others, are mourning the loss of Ms. Vickie Ward, who passed from labor to rest on December 16, 2020, in the US.

It is, therefore, my very sad duty but an honor to pay this tribute to Vickie, a brilliant mind with a great passion for education, gone too soon. The sudden news of Vickie’s passing, when there was never a hint that she was ill, is so shocking that the grief has been intense. She will be missed for her intelligence and competence, and also for her sacrifices to provide quality education to less fortunate children and youths in Liberia.

back link building services=0></a></div><p>I first met Ms. Vickie Ward when she came to the Embassy of Liberia in Washington, DC to serve as Special Assistant to Ambassador Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, who was appointed Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States by President Ellen Johnsdon Sirleaf in 2012. As The Embassy’s Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs, my duties included working very closely with the Ambassador and his staff. Ms. Ward and Ms. DeContee Clements were the principal staffers in the Ambassador’s office, two of the most competent and very beautiful young women I have been blessed to work with over the years. Although DeContee was much younger, she and Ms. Ward forged a very strong bond together.</p><p>During that period of time, Liberia was on the front burners of U.S. foreign policy. Madam President understood that strengthening the Embassy to enhance</p><p>Liberia’s representation with our most important bilateral partner in the world was very critical.</p><p>Ambassador Sulunteh was an innovative and energetic leader, who supported teamwork through the regular senior and general staff meetings and other engagements.</p><p>Vickie was an embodiment of the hard work and sacrifices at the Embassy to ensure effective representation for Liberia. She deserves acknowledgment for the role she played in the success Liberia attained in its bilateral relationship with the United States during that period of time.</p><p>An example is the Ebola virus epidemic outbreak in 2014, in which several West African countries, including Liberia, were worst affected. The Embassy complimented the government’s efforts with heightened representation to create awareness about the Ebola scourge and to help drum up support in the U.S. These included strong engagements with the Liberian communities, friends of Liberia, the U.S. government, and the private sector. I recall how under heavy downpour of rain and snow, day or night in Washington, Vickie and I accompanied Ambassador Sulunteh for live interviews at major global television studies like CNN, BBC and Fox. Town hall meetings and other public engagements were organized, in addition to preparing speeches and talking points that contained timely updates for the Ambassador’s public appearances. The campaign to eradicate Ebola became a crowning success when the then U.S. President, Barack Obama, made the historic announcement in November 2014 regarding Operation United Assistance, the U.S. military mission to contain the Ebola outbreak in Liberia and other worst affected countries. </p><div class='code-block code-block-5' style='margin: 8px 0; clear: both;'> <a href=https://www.adhang.com/guest-posting-services/ ><img class=lazy src=

Tribute to Ms. Vickie Ward: A Brilliant Mind Gone Too Soon

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