Leaglor Betty Kerdo

Ma Leaglor Betty Kerdo, was born in the early 1930's in a small village called Yor-Deaplue, Nimba County. Parents were Wonyekwei and Kerdo. She got married at age 16 to John Blawa Dunbar. They had 10 wonderful children: Ceybo Dunbar, Wesseh Dunbar, Ayee Dunbar, Junior Dunbar, Betty Dunbar, Alice Lally Dunbar, Evelyn Blessed Dunbar, Dorlea Lee Dunbar, Big Girl Dunbar, and Serena Mamie Dunbar.

Ma was a hard working woman. She raised 10 kids on her own after her husband left. Mother worked for the Marketing Association for Nimba County and also as a business woman. Every morning, Mother would go to work, and at the end of the day, she sold her market and went home to look after her kids. Ma worked extra hours and cleaned places to send her children to school. After 20 plus years, Ma started having Grandkids. When she saw her first Grandkid, Ma left everything and turned to her Grandkids. And years later, she started having more grandkids. She is the proud grandmother of Linda Mantey Dunbar, Sanoe Dunbar, Sunny Boy Dunbar, Saye Dunbar, Tokpah Dunbar, Josephine Dunbar, Toley Dunbar, Todd Dunbar, Fordey Dunbar, Baby Dunbar, Jessica Dunbar, Baby Dunbar, Fordey Dunbar, John Dunbar, George Dunbar, Babba Dunbar, Baby Girl Dunbar, Papee Dunbar, Big Daddy Dunbar, Sam Dunbar, Nathaniel Naiker Morris, Kandah Morris, Jerry Dunbar, Jack Lougon, Blessing Kamara, Alusine Wesseh Kamara, Deuteronomy John Tomahn Jr, Hector Howard Jr, J R Ba Brown, Monica Dunbar, Doris Dunbar, Esther Dunbar, Samuel Dunbar, and Arena Blessing Railey.

Then in 1989, when civil war broke out, Ma was captured and escorted to be killed, but was freed later on that evening. She took her Grandkids and fled to neighboring Country Guinea. She lived around the border area for 3 years, not knowing where her other children were. In 1992, a man told her that her Daughter Evelyn and Grandkids were in Ivory Coast, Ma packed her things and took her Grandkids with her to the Danane’, Ivory Coast.

Then came 1998-1999, Alice and 3 of the Grandkids were blessed to travel to the USA. In 2004, Evelyn was blessed to travel also and brought Jerry and Ma to California. Ma decided to come over to Saint Louis where all her children and Grandkids can stay as one family. Ma was later diagnosed with stage 3 bone and blood cancer. After that, every day was a struggle. Evelyn stayed close to Ma for over 15 years. They visited the BJC hospital for more than 200 times. Ma received the best care for all those years. Evelyn left everything, school and better jobs to serve her mother. She did odd jobs here and there to survive. Ma was very strong and encouraging. She never gave up hope. In those years, Children and Grandkids stayed close.

In 2022, Ma’s health started going downhill. In April of 2022, Ma was admitted, and then in September 2022, Ma was admitted again. Her daughter Evelyn was asked to leave her job or get fired for staying away for so long as many other jobs did. It was a sacrifice that not many of us are willing to do, but Evelyn did it with love for her Mother. And coming to church almost every Sunday when life had no meaning. Sometimes crying and asking God Why?

At the beginning of 2023, it started with more bad news. Then in March and April, Ma’s cancer had spread. On Easter Sunday at about 11 a.m., God took home Ma, Grandma and Great Grandma. Jesus loved Ma more!

Visitation at New City South Fellowship, 3502 Grace Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63116, on Thursday, April 20 from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. Burial following at Mt. Hope Cemetery. 

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