The initials "DJ" resonate with nothing but fond memories in the minds of all those whom were blessed and privileged to grow up in the household of our loving father, A lphonsus Gbenon Nyenati Davis , alias DJ.  This pseudonym was generated from an old western cowboy movie entitled DJANGO.  In that movie the villain had a roar of laughter unlike any other.  And since our dad always roared with laughter whenever he heard anything funny, we compared the two.  Hence the name nickname Django which degenerated into many pseudonyms as Deacon Joe, DJ, and the likes.  He was unique.

He was born on the 24th day of May 1934 to the union of William Wlalee Davis and Gbenon (Bonyenoh) Wreh in Maryland County, Liberia.  While growing up as a boy in Heweken Gedebo Chiefdom, education was his major focus.  He attended Saint Francis School in Pleebo City, Maryland County in 1952 and graduated from Our Lady of Fatima High School in 1955 with an interest to pursue a career in nursing.  In 1958, he graduated from Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts School of Nursing, Monrovia, Liberia, with a diploma in Nursing.  In pursuit of more education, he was awarded a scholarship by the Liberia government to study anesthesiology at the Institute of Anesthesiology in Paris, France, from 1961 to 1964 where he earned a certificate in French language and a diploma in anesthesiology.  Still in pursuit of higher education, he attended the Our Lady of Fatima College in Harper City, Maryland County where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1969.  During his schooling, Alphonsus Nyanti played as a striker on many soccer teams including St. Francis in Pleebo City, Our Lady of Fatima, Sahara, and Maryland County soccer team.  He even participated in the annual national inter-county tournaments from 1953 to 1955.  He also played for the Youth Leaders Soccer team in Monrovia. Alphonsus Nyanti's greatest memory in football was his magnificent strike from the center of the football pitch during a soccer match that resulted in a goal and a win of his team.  He retired from active football in the seventies when he sustained a broken shoulder bone during a practice session.  He was later appointed by the superintendent of Maryland County to the position of chairman of Maryland County Supports and Athletics Commission.  During his tenure, he organized local leagues, inspired players, and prepared Maryland County team for several annual national inter-county sports leagues.

As a career medical practitioner, Alphonsus Nyanti worked at the James Jenkins Dossen Memorial Hospital as a nurse-anesthetist in Harper City, Maryland County from 1964 until his retirement in 2001.  He reserved the weekends to provide affordable health services through a mobile clinic on foot to the less fortunate people in villages of Karluway District in Maryland County.  He also taught French language in many schools in Harper City, Maryland County.  From the 1970s to 2000, counting on his experience, commitment, innovations, and mentorship, Alphonsus Nyenati assumed leadership in various roles in Maryland County.  He served as Parish Council President and Grebo Choir Director while composing hymns in Grebo language at St. Theresa Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Cape Palmas, Maryland County.  He also served as chairman on a team of Grebo scholars to translate the Catholic liturgy and hymns from English to Grebo upon request of Bishop Boniface Nyema Dalieh, now deceased.

During the Liberian civil war in the mid-1990s, he was appointed to the position of the Maryland County citizens defense force general with the mandate of resisting the continuous harassments of citizens by National Patriotic Party (NPFL) rebels and the advancing Liberian Peace Council (LPC) rebels. Alphonsus Nyanti academic study led him to co-author a book with William Kpaye Kamma Reeves, which was published in 2004. The book focused on Heroes of Gedebo or Kleo and subsection of Grebo Land in Liberia.

With certainty, the greatness of Alphonsus Nyanti's services to his country Liberia, especially Maryland County reflects the root of his successes, his family. The key principle that characterized the upbringing of his family, was discipline enforced by parental imperatives.  Guided by this principle and his life experience, all his children were educated while growing up in the catholic faith.  All members of his family attended St. Theresa Cathedral regularly and participated in church activities or organizations of their choice. Alphonsus Nyanti's family conducted regular morning and evening prayers at home where every family member took turns in leading prayers with the anticipation that anyone could be called to provide a summary of the Sunday mass and how each of us would apply the sermon in our lives.  His religious life led him to pray three times daily using the Holy rosary to draw the deepest desires in his souls, desires for God, and God alone.  During the evening hours, he gathered his family under the moonlight for storytelling of the Grebo tradition.  The theme of each story would be identified and the application to our everyday lives.  He organized activities at home so that every child assumed a weekly rotational schedule for the division of work.  He made daily rounds in his house to ensure everyone complied with his/her assigned work at home.  There were times for his children to play, study, sleep, awake, and a time to leave the house for school and return after school and time for family exercise.  All his children grew up playing some form of sports.

Alphonsus Gbenon Nyenati Davis, age 86 passed away peacefully, in Charlotte on August 3, 2020.  He left a legacy of love, respect, thoughtfulness, patience, intelligence, encouragement, and commitment which will continue to resonate among those he inspired.  He was always there for everyone, his wife, Mrs. Una Victoria Kladi Stemn-Davis, children, neighbors, colleagues, and friends. His love was unconditional, and this is something we cherish from his character.

He is survived by his widow of 55 years of marriage, Mrs. Una Victoria Kladi Stemn-Davis. Sixteen (16) Children: Florence, Joseph, Barbara, Alphonsus Jr. (Helena), Victor, Phillip (Mardea), Una Newton (Geroge), Boniface, Hillary Holder, Roland Harmon, Chris Reeves, Julia (Gertrude), Maurice Pelham, Alphonsus Wesley, Peterson Toe, David Teah and was predeceased by his son, Benedict. Siblings: Emmanuel B (Esther),Peter S (Esther), Thomas G (Jean) Derrellyne D, Andrew W, Marie M (Benedict), Mary Davis; Grandchildren: Wilhelmina Short (Alistair), Evelyn, David, Bridgette, Hilma, Jeannie, Moham, Gwendolyn, Barbriel, Tepoe, Joseph, Georgetta, Winston, Wannie; 11 Great Grandchildren , Nieces, Nephews, and a host of other relatives an friends in Liberia, Europe and the United States.  His kindness and generosity will be remembered by all whom had the pleasure of knowing him.

Isaiah 57:1-2... the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil of the world.  Those who walk upright enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. Rest in peace Dad, your memory lives on.