Early Life and Marriage
Nancy Bohn was born in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, on 16 July 1954. In March 1971, at age sixteen, she married Samuel Kanyon Doe, forging a partnership that would leave a lasting mark on Liberia.
First Indigenous First Lady (1980–1990)
When Samuel Doe became President in 1980, Nancy Bohn Doe made history as Liberia’s first Indigenous First Lady. Under her leadership, the Office of the First Lady of Liberia became a sanctuary of hope, extending support to all Liberians through scholarships, apprenticeships, building projects, community churches, business grants, and employment recommendations. By presidential decree, every endorsement she issued bore the full weight of the Republic and was immediately honored by all government departments.
Impact Through the Office of the First Lady of Liberia
- Welcomed and supported over 100,000 Liberians who came to her office seeking aid.
- Allocated nearly two million dollars in grants to fund scholarships, apprenticeships, community projects, and other critical assistance.
- Provided hands-on mentorship to a minimum of ten young interns each year, nurturing the next generation of Liberian leaders.
- Spearheaded care at the Indigent Children’s Orphanage Home, ensuring orphaned and abandoned children received safety, nourishment, and the chance to dream
Champion of Women’s Education and Community Development
A tireless advocate for women from the humblest backgrounds, Mrs. Doe opened doors that had long been closed. Her enduring legacy is enshrined in two national landmarks named in her honor:
- Nancy Bohn Doe Jokpentown Market, Sinkor
- Nancy Bohn Doe Stadium, Kakata, Margibi County
Trials and Perseverance
After President Doe’s death, Nancy Bohn Doe demonstrated extraordinary strength. She cared for her ten children as they fled political persecution from Liberia to the United Kingdom, then Paris, and finally the United States. Despite her and her husband’s generosity, she sometimes suffered scorn, even being denied entry to government offices. Yet she never wavered in her commitment to serve every Liberian through the Office of the First Lady of Liberia.
Legacy and Remembrance
In her later years, Mrs. Doe quietly bore the burden of unacknowledged devotion. Though she carried on with grace, she longed for the recognition her pioneering work deserved. Her passing on 21 May 2025 has ignited a national movement to honor her contributions. Plans are underway for her joint interment with President Doe, a celebration of their shared legacy and an opportunity for the nation to express the gratitude she never received. Details of the ceremony will be announced in due course.
The Doe family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from across Liberia and beyond. Though much of Nancy Bohn Doe’s service went unseen in her lifetime, the nation’s acknowledgment now brings us profound comfort. She would have been deeply moved to see how many lives she touched through the Office of the First Lady of Liberia.