Former Sen. J. Hodo Manston Was Buried in Fishtown

On Friday, the 18th of December, at half-past ten in the morning, my cell phone rang; I said, “Hello!” And then the caller on the other end, said “Hello!.” Shortly, I realized it was the late Sen. J. Hodo Manston.

As a regular routine, he wanted to speak with me.

See, the late Senator and I used to speak with each other on the phone regularly; sometimes late at night; sometimes early in the mornings or afternoons. Usually, we talk for long.

This time when he responded to my “hello!,” our conversation was momentary. He gave me the impression he was on his way to Maryland to join me in the struggle and fight for the lost soul of Maryland.

On that same Friday, at eleven in the morning, this great living thinker (J. Hodo Manston) ceased to think.

The news of his demise reached me at one in the Afternoon. My knees knocked together and my lips trembled like a feverish child! Actually, I was shocked!

I was told that he had been left alone in his hospital room for scarcely two minutes. But when family members came back they found him in his bed, peacefully gone to sleep -- but forever.

I recovered from the shock.

Soon, I concluded, an immeasurable loss had been sustained both by the family, progressive mankind and people of both Liberia and Maryland, in the death of Sen. J. Hodo Manston.

The gap that has been left by the departure of this mighty spirit would soon enough make itself felt.

During his Funeral Services, Father Johnson preached the Eulogy. From his utterances, he agreed with all my conclusions: The gap Sen. Manston left by his departure to join our martyrs was being felt.

In his service as senator, he built a school in his village.

The Priest lambasted our current Legislators for their failure to emulate the late Sen. Manston. Besides building an elementary & junior high school in his village, he built a concrete home in the same village and open a business enterprise to help employ his people.

I was right.

Because the Priest confirmed it: the late Sen. Manston authored many contracts that are meaningful to the interests of Maryland. For example, it was he who authored the purchase of the Presidential Palace for all Presidents of the Republic of Liberia visiting Maryland County.

Not only that.

The Priest agreed, that The County Guest House established within the Cedar Park in Harper City was the result of the late Sen. Manston’s ingenuity. The Government stands to financially gain enormously from the Guest House.

I don’t apologize for the Priest for condemning our current Legislators for not working together for the common good of the county.

For example, a former senator dies and none of them showed up for the Funeral. Sen. Morias showed up simply because the late Senator was his “political advisor.” Otherwise, like the rest, he would fail to show.

The gap this mighty spirit has left is now showing.

During his Funeral in his village, Fishtown, we saw the School he built that he named in his stead, falling apart at the hinges.

The rest of our Legislators care less about the School. His own residence  that he built on the edge of the white sand beach in Fishtown, is falling apart also.

The man had not gone too far when a lot began to be exposed. Hypocrisy, deceit, flamboyance and the weakness in the character of many people were glaring.

The current Superintendent of Maryland County, Madam Betsy Kuoh-Toe did not attend the Funeral as a final farewell.

The late Se. J. Hodo Manston played a pivotal role in making her the second female superintendent; the first person and first female to become superintendent from the Barrobo District since 1857 when Maryland ceased to be an independent state and joined Liberia.

Paramount & Clan Chiefs, Town Mayors, Commissioners and District superintendents from Barrobo, Karluway & Pleebo/Sodokeh failed to show up at both the receiving of the Mortal remains of this mighty spirit at a Program held at the Harper City Hall and the Funeral in Fishtown. It was heartbreaking!

There is a saying amongst the Glebo people that the man who beats the drum wonderfully well for people to dance and enjoy themselves during festivities, is always disappointed when his turn comes to dance; for there is no good drummer to be found.

The late J. Hodo Manston played drums for many to dance.  

Wednesday, January 27, 2016, the late Senator wanted to dance. But pitifully for him, no good drummer showed up.

We took him the late Senator out of the St. Valentine Church and buried him one hundred yards away from his private residence in Fishtow.

We laid  him down near his great father and lovely mother who predeceased him. After all was set and done, I departed Fishtown back to Harper. But festivities in the town were still ongoing and alive.

Sen. J. Hodo Manston has finally left us and gone for good to join our martyrs.

I am T. Gbuo-Mle Bedell; social justice advocate, speaking and working on the ground in Liberia and a victim of police brutality in Liberia