Dr. Louise York, Founder, First President of AMEU, Dies

Written by Observer Staff
Tuesday, 03 January 2012 09:48
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The death is announced of Dr. (Mrs.) Louise C. York, the founder and first president of Monrovia’s African American Episcopal University (AMEU). She was in her 8thth year.
A product of Lott Carey Baptist Mission in her native Brewerville, Mrs. York was married at a very young age to a highly successful Liberian businessman, Mr. James L. York, who in the 1940s, 50s and early 60s was one of the two Liberian businessman with stores down

Waterside, both at the foot of Randall Street. The other was Mr. John Howard, who later built the compound behind the St. Teresa’s Convent in Monrovia. The Waterside was at the time dominated by foreign businessmen, including Syrian and Lebanese nationals.
After giving birth to several children, Mrs. York, with great encouragement from her beloved husband, returned to high school at Monrovia College Industrial Academy, which was run by her church, AME. There she completed high school in 1956.

Her husband, Mr. York, who himself had not exceeded the 8th grade, further encouraged young his wife pursue higher education. So she enrolled at the University of Liberia, where she graduated with the Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education, majoring in Physics. She later received a UNESCO fellowship and traveled to the United States of America, where she took the Master of Science degree in Secondary Education from Wayne State University.
Upon her return she became Physics instructor at Monrovia College. She later became the first woman to head the Physics Department of the University of Liberia (UL). There was another woman first to head the Sciences at Liberia College (LC), forerunner to the University of Liberia. She was Mrs. Anna Cooper, head of the Chemistry Department until her retirement in the early 1960s.

After 23 years as president of Monrovia College and Industrial Traning School, Dr. York served as president of the National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL) and president of the High School Principals Association.
This enterprising and dedicated educator did not stop there. It was during the Liberian civil war that she dared to move one giant step further in her educational accomplishments. She founded and became the first president of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU). She served in that position for nine years.

A lifelong member of the African Methodist Memorial Episcopal Church (AME), Dr. York also served as past president of the WMS 14th Episcopal District, life member of the
Women’s Missionary Society of the AME Church and former vice chair of the Steward Board and steward emeritus of the AME Church.

Louise Cordelia Wilson York was born on Novemer 4, 1925 to the union of the Rev. George T. Wilson and Mrs. Hannah C. Woods Wilson in the City of Brewerville, Montserrado County.
During the Independence Day celebrations in 2008 President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf decorated Dr. York with the Grand Commander, Order of the Star of Africa.

Survivors a brother, Mr. A. John Wilson, Sr., 10 children, three sons-in-law; two daughters-in-law, 31 grand children, 15 great-grand children, two (2) great-great children and many other relatives, friends and colleagues in Liberia and aboard.
A family spokesperson said that Dr. York, having dedicated her entire life to the education of thousands of Liberian youth, the family is asking sympathizers and friends to contribute to the Louise C. York Memorial Fund for the Intellectual Empowerment of Youth, instead of gifts or wreaths.

Funeral Arrangements
The body of the late Dr. Louise C. York will be removed from the Stryker Funeral Parlors on Friday, January 6, 2012 at four o’clock p.m. and taken to the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Congotown, Sophie’s Ice Cream Junction, for wake keeping, from six to 10 p.m. All tributes will be presented at the wake.

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, January 7, 2012, at 10 o’clock a.m., at the Elijah Turner AME Church on Camp Johnson Road, followed by interment in the York Family Plot in the City of Brewerville.

Last modified on Tuesday, 03 January 2012 09:53

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Published in Obituaries