Comments on: A Sundance Channel Original Documentary : EVENTUAL SALVATION

By: Mary Kartwe

Mary Kartwe — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 07:13:18 +0000

So great to see this! Brought back so many memories. Seeing her ascend the stairs to the auditorium made me reflect on the many times I ascended them for Friday Afternoon Assemblies. Mrs. Smith will always be remembered. Thanks for sharing this for the world to see.

By: Mark Kamara

Mark Kamara — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:38:27 +0000

Mrs. Smith was “THE” force that held us in check during our high school days. She was a strict disciplinarian all the time. I remember the basketball team got in trouble with her when we broke St. Patricks rim (after we lost the game). I also remember her stern looks, with her glasses lowered a little bit on her nose, as she walked down the aisle in the auditorium. That “LOOK” woke me up every morning!!! WE love Mrs. Smith. Good Bye and God bless.

By: Ciyata Coleman

Ciyata Coleman — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 01:45:10 +0000

Mrs. Ernestine Smith, what a remarkable and unselfish instructor. As I recall her impressive posture and pedagogical approach, words are inexplicable to describe her impact on the lives of many young men and women, who attended CWA, and on the country, Liberia. Mrs. Smith respected each of my classmates, and expected each one of us to succeed. She often reminded us of how fortunate we were relative to some of the challenges being faced by high school kids in the land of her birth. I owe much of the self-discipline that I practice in my life and career to her, and to the examples she set for my schoolmates. I recite often one of her favorite letters for transcription in short-hand class, offered as a warm-up, namely, Dear Mr. Stone,……… . The content of the business letters we transcribed and typed, told us a lot of what to expect in the world around and ahead of us. May her soul rest in peace, and thank God, her resting place is in the country, she chose as her own.

By: Frederica

Frederica — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 04:14:33 +0000

Every great man/woman has to go, and here goes our Mama Fox!

Mrs Smith feared no one and she dealt with some of the toughest teenagers to pass through the foxes den. She was ready to discipline any day and with no remorse. She was a disciplinarian. She would have lunch with your parents one minute and suspend you the next, no offense, it was strictly business. Mrs. Smith thanks for the wonderful foundation you provided to so many of us. We will miss you dearly. You were our Mama Fox. You made so many of us laugh, you made us cry, but you stood steadfast, you did not waver. For that, we appreciate you. I really don’t remember if there was ever a day that you stayed at home sick. You were at CWA all the time, and now that you’re gone, I know you will continue to roam the halls.

Thank you Mama Fox! Rest in peace.

By: Emmett Dennis

Emmett Dennis — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:54:42 +0000

We all have pleasant memories of Mrs. Smith. We all appreciate her for taking that trip in 1958 to our country Liberia. She will remain with us forever and ever. She made a positive impact on our lives, both CWA students and others.

Thank you Gwen, for sharing your mother with us. Thank you Dee Rees for sharing your grandmother with us.

Emmett

By: CWA-AA, USA

CWA-AA, USA — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:46:48 +0000

She left her home many year ago to share what she had with us. She touched countless lives; that of your fathers and mothers, your lives and then your kids. How can we honor her memories- by doing a fraction of what she did.

Join CWA-AA, USA to give to projects that will continue her legacy. We are putting together a purse to help cover your homegoing. Join us on http://www.cwaaausa.org and learn how you can contribute.

Alex Wonasue
National President
CWA-AA, USA, INC.

By: Genevieve Wilson

Genevieve Wilson — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:32:52 +0000

Mrs. Smith was phenomenal. She took a chance on a flat-chest, one hundred pound girlish looking young lady when no one else could in 1983 and offered her, her first job. If I could use three words to describe her they would be “love, passion, commitment”. Her death reminded me of all the good times we shared at CWA. I will always be grateful to her and veterans such as her (Uncle Reide, Mr. Sambola etc) who helped mold a young lady freshly out of college into a mature teacher.

I will miss you, Mrs. Smith.

Genevieve

By: J. Siaka Konneh

J. Siaka Konneh — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:30:24 +0000

I never attended C.W. A. I attended St. Patrick’s and then B.W. Harris. At the time, I heard a lot of exellent academic achievements about Mrs. Smith at C.W.A,, which encouraged me to request an enrollment at C. W.A. But at that time, one of the school’s policy was that they could not enroll an in-coming student in 11th. grade during the second semester. So I could not attend C.W.A in 1980. I cherished the lady. May her soul rest in perfect peace and light perpetual shine on her.

J. Siaka Konneh
Sacramento, California

By: J. Siaka Konneh

J. Siaka Konneh — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:18:26 +0000

To Konner Dennis,

Hi Konner,

I just saw your name on this site. I am very delighted about this. It’s been quite a long time. I have also been searching for some of our B. W. Harris’ classmates including my buddy Sam Cummings, Calvin Perry, Charles Reeves, Nyenpu Nyomo, Maudline Askie, among others. I manged to come across Toyuwah Harris on Facebook. I live in California and my direct email address is jsiaka@aol.com. ‘Hope all is well with you.

Thanks.

Your B. W. Harris High School Classmate (Class of’ ’81),

J. Siaka Konneh

By: Tanneh Brunson

Tanneh Brunson — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:01:18 +0000

What a phenomenal lady! An alumni cannot reminisce about CWA without thinking about her. She touched so many lives and help to make so many of us what we are today. For that, we say a big thank you.
I returned to Liberia last year and surprisingly ran into her at the grocery store. She informed me she had just returned as well. I thanked her for her contribution to the school and Liberia (as instructors like are now few and far between) and let her know though we didn’t realize it then, she was only trying to steer us in the right direction. Just two weeks ago, I saw her walking along our very busy Broad Street (those of you who are home or have been home lately can relate) and found out that she had again just come back after a period of absence. So you see, for her, this was home and in some way I believe she came back to die at home!

I can just hear her saying, “Foxes, Foxes, Foxes in the middle, let me hear you shout”! (These are words from a favorite song she taught us to cheer our teams at game time)

May her soul rest in perfect peace.

By: Lynnette Henri Roberts

Lynnette Henri Roberts — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:26:59 +0000

I was out of the country and returned to hear the sad news of yourr passing. Ms. Smith, as we all called her, was an Iron lady, but very loving and affectionate once you got passed the hard exterior. She was very instrumental in my young life at CWA. I am a “Prince” fan because of Mrs. Smith, we learned to type with Prince’s “controversy” playing in the background and us typing to the beat. You will surely be missed, but your family can rest assured that you touched so many lives. You are gone, but will never be forgotten. Rest in perfect peace Ms. Smith.

By: Joanne Toweh

Joanne Toweh — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:59:17 +0000

Mrs. Smith was a mother to all of us. She and my parents had been good friends since the early sixties. I grew up knowing the family. She was a mother to us. She kept in touch with the family even after our parents passed away. The last time I saw her was in Liberia druing the innauguration of Mrs. Sirleaf. We talked, but never met again. Her passing is a great lost to Liberia. She lived her life for CWA. I didn’t attend CWA but my brother, Solomon, did. I have other family members that attended CWA and she was just in love with that school and the country. I’m sorry for her passing, but I’m glad that she passed in the country that she loved so dearly.

May her soul and the souls of the faithful departed rest in perfect peace.

Gwen, we’ll talk when you get back.

Joanne

By: Rozyna Garnett Dunn

Rozyna Garnett Dunn — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:13:40 +0000

Mrs. Smith gave me my first profession teaching job fresh out of the University of Liberia (LU). She was all about empowering Liberians in general, women in particular and CWA’s alumni especially. When I walked into the office to fill out my employment application form for the position of French teacher, there were at least three Francophones from nearby countries. But I had three aces up my sleeves, and even though I was already employed at LU as a Teaching Assistant, she was willing to re-schedule my classes to avoid any conflict. When I received a French government scholarship through LU in 1985 to do a masters degree in France, she wished me well and reminded me that CWA would have been waiting upon my return. That was not to be… after my studies, when the conflict back home starting brewing, I fled to the U S for safety. Thank you, thank you, Dear Lady; rest in peace

By: Brucein Myers

Brucein Myers — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 12:55:52 +0000

I did not attend CWA but my brother (Aaron Brown) and friends did. I attended St. Patrick’s High School at that time. I heard a lot of good things that Mrs. Smith did for the school. She was a disciplinarian and prolific educator. She was very firm with parents who because of their ‘governmental backgrounds” thought they could ride on the school’s administration. Students who were not ready to learn were asked to find some other schools where they could go and play around. I just wish those old days would come back again in Liberia. Just to express my sympathy.

Brucein

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 21:31:26 +0000

I was saddened by the death of Mrs. Smith. As an educator, she touched many lives in Liberia, including mine. My first job as a secretary was possible because of the training she give me in Secretarial Practice. My deepest sympathy to her family, friends, students and all those whose lives she touched. The tape is very interesting and wish to see it in its entirety.

By: Vivian Ward

Vivian Ward — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:36:34 +0000

Mrs. Smith was a remarkable woman! I posted this clip on my facebook page after we learned of her death and I am now receiving numerous request on how to obtain the entire documentary. Can it be purchased in dvd format? If yes, please provide that info.

By: Myrtle-Rose Greene

Myrtle-Rose Greene — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:41:20 +0000

Isn’t it strange, there must be hundreds of Mrs Smiths out there and I know at least 10, but whenever someone mentions the name, Mrs Smith, the only person I think of is Mrs CWA Smith. I went to CWA when it could challenge any school in any part of the world and hold it’s own and Mrs Smith was the shining light that on everything we did. Whether she was creating cheers for us to sing when our Foxes were playing to getting me interested in my future career, Accounting, or making sure we did not hug our boyfriends in an unlady like manner at the school dance. She may have had one daughter but she had many children and like all children as we have grown up we have come to realize that she was very good for us and to us.

My deepest sympathy to the love ones she leaves behind.

By: Julius Weeks

Julius Weeks — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:41:46 +0000

Mrs. Smith, What a giant among women. This wonderful servant of God and man taught me all of my high school elective courses which have served me well throughout my life. She taught me typing, business accounting and Gregg shorthand. Mrs. Smith instructed me on being a gentleman and a good servant of God and my fellow man.

This lady was great. She encouraged, cajoled, pressured and persuaded her students to apply ourselves and be the best that we could possibly be. What a presence and passion she posessed.

I will foreaver cherish the memory of Mrs. Smith. The world has lost a wonderful but unsung hero and servant of God and mankind. She is the personification of living life with meaning.

Peace to her family and her beautiful soul.

By: ajamu thabiti

ajamu thabiti — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:38:59 +0000

Is there a way to see how the people in the film are doing today? Forgive me if this shows twice-cannot tell if first email went through.

ajamu thabiti

By: ajamu thabiti

ajamu thabiti — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:37:24 +0000

To Philine,
Are there any numbers to call or people to check with to see how the characters of the documentary are doing now?

Ajamu Thabiti

By: Phil G

Phil G — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:22:56 +0000

Just watched this documentary on Sundance, what an amazing lady this is. Great documentary, what a great inspiration for Liberia and so many other places in Africa. Liberia will hopefully head towards peace and prosperity thanks to people like Ernestine.

Thanks

By: Konner Dennis

Konner Dennis — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:24:31 +0000

Philine, I want to believe she resides in tenn,will get that information for you. She and Mr.Smith are william reide godparents.

By: Philine Darwin-Kennedy

Philine Darwin-Kennedy — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:18:35 +0000

Sorry about the mis-spelling of your name Terri. I did not realized that I had forgotten to put in an extra “R”.

By: Philine Darwin-Kennedy

Philine Darwin-Kennedy — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:11:13 +0000

Response to Teri Fox:
Mrs. Ernestine Smith/ CWA/Liberia
Hi Teri,
My name is Philine Darwin- Kennedy and I am off Liberian descent, living in the USA. I attended CWA when Mrs. Smith was the principal. She is truly a great lady and had a great influence on many of us who went there. I am not sure how to contact her, but, we do have a very active alumini association here in the United States. The link to the website is cwaaausa.org and I am sure that the president of the association, Al Wonasue, will be able to tell you how to get in touch with her.

By: Garmann Dennis

Garmann Dennis — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:07:58 +0000

Hello,

It was amazing seeing this. I attended CWA while she was President. She was partial to me ( I think ). I would like to write to her and just say thanks. As the Liberian President is sometimes called “the iron lady” she is another “iron lady. She is special.

Garmann Dennis

By: Terri Fox

Terri Fox — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:46 +0000

I was so touched with Ernestine Smith and “Eventual Salvation”. Is there a way of writing/emailing her? I would truly like to see if there are charitable organizations that help CWA and how I could lend support to her or them. Sincerely, Terri Fox onefoxfarm@pldi.net