By Grace Bryant Mollay
The Chaplain General of the House of Representatives, Alonso Duncan, has reminded mourners of the inevitability of death and the importance of living lives of purpose and spiritual readiness.
Speaking on the grounds of the Capitol Building during the lying-in-state ceremony for Deputy Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, C. Cormicks Chea, Rev. Duncan delivered a sermon drawn from Ecclesiastes 9:1–12.
He emphasized that death is the appointed time for all to meet their Creator.
“After death, we shall meet with God to determine our fate. Many of us live as though this world is our permanent home, forgetting the God who gave us life. But death is real, and none of us knows the hour,” he warned.
Duncan cautioned against the pursuit of wealth and political power at the expense of one’s spiritual responsibilities, stressing that material riches and influence cannot save anyone in the face of death.
“Doctors will try, but death will still come. We must live our lives meticulously, knowing that they belong to God,” he said.
He continued, “The Lord has sent me to speak to everyone on this Mount. We are here for a time. Scripture tells us it is appointed unto man to live for 70 years or more, but many die before reaching that age. People often say, No one dies before their time, but that is not true. If you don’t reach your appointed time, then you have died before it. That’s why we must be careful. Our lives are not ours they belong to God, and we must live them deliberately and spiritually aware.”
He recalled the sudden passing of Chea as a stark reminder, “Chea was here with us. He sat in the chambers and read the agenda, and shortly after, we were told he felt sick. Then he met his untimely death. The question is: Who’s next? That’s why we must be spiritually prepared.”
Duncan added that God, in His wisdom, does not reveal the hour of death or the second coming of Christ.“ Because we do not know when we’ll die, we must live purposefully and with reverence. Too often, we chase wealth, status, and political positions and when we get them, we forget God. But your wealth cannot save you when death comes. The doctors will do their best, but they cannot stop what God has appointed.”
He concluded by encouraging the family and mourners, “God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. There is no sorrow on Earth that Heaven cannot heal.”
“We give God the glory that Chea did not suffer before his passing, he went home peacefully. May God bless and comfort us all. In Jesus’ name, Amen,” he expressed.
In a tribute on behalf of the Liberian Senate, Francis Dopoh of River Gee County remembered Chea’s pivotal role in mentoring him during his early days in the House of Representatives.
“Chea was one of the first to show me the workings of the House. He was a quiet force of encouragement and technical guidance, always pushing for excellence,” Senator Dopoh reflected.
He described Chea’s passing as a great loss, “This is not just a loss to the House; it’s a loss to the entire Legislature and the people of Liberia. May God receive his soul, and may the Holy Spirit comfort his family.”
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Thomas Fallah, recalled his long-standing relationship with Chea dating back to their first election to the Legislature in 2006.
“I met Chea as a young man during the post-war elections. He was innovative and committed. He understood the fundamentals of legislative work and became a pillar—helping us draft laws, advising on procedures, and mentoring new members,” Fallah said.
He recounted the tragic events of May 29, the day Chea collapsed at work while reading the session’s agenda, expressing, “He was vibrant that morning, reading the agenda and supporting the session. Less than 30 minutes later, we were informed he had collapsed. We rushed him to the hospital, and by June 1, we were told he had passed away. It was sudden and heartbreaking.”
Fallah described Chea as a dedicated professional who preferred substance over showmanship, “If you wanted to draft legislation and didn’t know how, you turned to Chea. He wasn’t loud, but he was effective. We have lost a dependable colleague, a legislative encyclopedia.”