Raw Edge of Purgatory

About the Book

Edge of Purgatory is a memoir of the tribulations and survival of Alberta Davies during the Liberian Civil War. In this book, Ms. Davies tells how God and the Virgin, Mary helped her through the woes, throes, and thrones of the Liberian horror. The book explains how the invasion into Liberia began in December, 1989. It gives a brief history of the country, the three principal parties involved in the conflicts, the rebels’ attires barbaric attitudes. The book explained the Liberians' reactions to the incursion, the sufferings endured, and the arrival of ECOMOG, the death of Samuel K. Doe, the rule of Prince Johnson, the election of Charles Taylor, and the natural resources stolen. Finally, the book concludes with advices for the 2011 election, the country’s natural resources monitoring, and a letter to the Liberians at home from an exile Liberian.

About the Author

I am Alberta Davies-Doe was born in Monrovia, Liberia. My parents were Jonathan E.L. Davies, an Accountant and Cynthia E. Davies, an Administrator. I am the third child of six children. I attended the St. Teresa’s Convent High School and graduated in 1980. I received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Liberia in 1990; just when the Liberian civil war began. I earned my Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Phoenix. During my years in college, I worked and attended the Don Bosco Technical School at night where I met and married Hedison Doe, Sr. We had six children: Kayennoh, Benedicta, Cyndi, Blamette, Hedison, Jr., and Sonpon. I decided to remain in the country with my family. I refused to be a refugee or a burden to my relatives. I hoped the invasion would be a coup d’état and the carnage be over soon. My family and I lived in Caldwell and not in central Monrovia where the Executive Mansion was. The place all the Liberian warlords wanted. Like most Liberians, I was wrong. The civil war was atrocious. I lived through the woes, throes, and thrones of the Liberian horror. When I could no longer live in terror, I became a refugee. In my heart, I promised God and Our Lady, to write this book to tell the world of the miracles that helped me survive the Liberian pogrom.