The family of the late First Lady Nancy Doe has rejected and returned the gifts donated by former President George Manneh Weah as an expression of sympathy to the bereaved family. On June 8, the former Liberian president visited the Sinkor residence of the late First Lady to honor her legacy and to emphasize unity and solidarity between the Weah and Doe families. This visit aimed to counter social media speculation suggesting tension between the two families.
The donation package included US$5,000 in cash, 50 bags of rice, and two cows, all of which were returned by the Doe family. The rejection of these items raised questions about potential underlying tensions or concerns surrounding the gesture. Later that same day, after the gifts were taken back to the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Headquarters in Congo Town, a truck was seen returning to the bereaved family’s home to offload the items again. A family member informed journalists that an internal issue among the family had prompted the initial rejection, but that it had since been resolved. However, not long after, the family chose to return the items once more.
During his visit on June 8, 2025, former President Weah expressed condolences to the Doe family, stating, “I treated the late Mama Nancy Doe with respect. We should not allow people to spoil the relationship between us. We are one people. We need peace.” He noted that Nancy Doe was the widow of Liberia’s 21st President, Samuel Kanyon Doe, and had been an iconic figure in the nation’s political and cultural life.
Weah remarked that her death marked the end of an era for many, especially in Grand Gedeh County, which is known as the stronghold of the Doe political legacy. Weah described the late First Lady’s legacy as that of a “national figure” whose influence extended far beyond her role as a presidential spouse. “Madam Doe was not just the wife of a former president. She was a mother, a leader, and a symbol of strength and grace for many Liberians,” he said. “We are here not just because she is gone, but because her legacy lives on.”
