Isaiah Benedicto Williams finally laid to rest

By Wise Wesseh 

The late Student Isaiah Benedicto Williams, whose life was cut short as a result of a failed anesthesia machine at St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital, has been laid to rest.

Dozens of relatives, friends, and sympathizers filled with emotions and drenched in tears looked as the sky blue casket carrying remains of the late Benedicto Williams was being slowly taken into the church for the funeral rite.

The funeral ceremony was held at Christ Redemption Ministries International in Gbandi Community, Logan Town, on Bushord Island.

His nephew, Konah Williams, paid tribute, remembering the 21-year-old deceased for his commitment to Education and service to God.

Konah described the late Williams as an academician and a potential brain surgeon whose dream and aspirations were abruptly cut off through medical procedural error and machine failure at St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital in Monrovia.

Reading the deceased’s Life Sketch, Konah said the late Williams was an affectionate person who loved people and took Education as one of his prime pillars in life.

Pastor Varney K. Freeman, who preached the funeral discourse, said the late Isaiah’s admiration for God had placed him in the bosom of the highest.

Speaking on the theme: “How Prepared you are for Death” with text taken from St. John 5:24, Pastor Freeman stressed that death is part of life, but a Christian should be prepared when the time comes.

“Our Son Isaiah is lying here in the hands of God, and we will all miss him because he has left us in tears, but he is in heaven with joy. But how prepared are we to meet him?” He asked.

“I know Isaiah is in the bosom of the Lord because in his last days on earth, he devoted his time to Christ, and I wonder why God will even take his life when this boy only got baptized in December 2024,” he recalled.

In an emotional tribute for her son, the mother of the deceased, Madam Veronica Bendu Tayeah, broke down in sorrow as she mourned the loss of a dear son she described as the darling of her heart.

“My darling boy, as I always used to call you, I’m sorry for taking you to Catholic hospital. I didn’t see this coming; please forgive me, my son.

I know you are hurt. I’m sorry that I did not treat you the right way. I did not allow you to play baby on me; maybe I was too harsh on you for your education, but I needed the best from you,” Madam Tayeah laments in tears.

She recounts her love for her son while calling for Justice for his death.

The late Isaiah Benedicto Williams, a candidate for enrolment at Lay Adventists University of Kigali, Rwanda, died on January 3, 2025, in the operation theater of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital – 24 hours after he was admitted to treat a swollen hydro cele condition.

Family, friends, sympathizers, and other mourners trooped on the main Logan Town street, chanting songs and slogans, as the casket was moved from JFK Medical Hospital morgue in Sinkor, Monrovia, to the Church for the funeral service.

The deceased was finally interred in a family cemetery at Cooper Farm, Fendall Community, Montserrado County after a medical investigation by the Liberia Medical and Dental Council found the hospital liable for his death. The LMDC attributed the cause of death to a malfunctioning anesthesia machine.

Liberia Medical Board, through its head, Dr. Benetta Collins Andrew, said, “With all our investigation, it was revealed that anesthesia machine set up was not up to standard. They were not working, and as a Council, we hold the hospital liable and fined them US$30,000 for allowing surgical work without a standard procedure and a license.”

Congolese Pediatric Doctor NGOY-MULUME Thadee, who should have performed the surgery, was fined US$ 1500 for practicing medicines in the country without a valid license.