Henry Lavilewoi Zayzay

Henry Lavilewoi Zayzay Sr. a beloved and devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend passed away on Monday July 13, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. Henry was born on April 16, 1938 to mother Gplavia and father Yigbe in Liberia. He is a graduate of Booker T. Washington Institute of High Learning and later the University of Liberia. In Liberia he met and married his lifelong partner, Esther Morris Zayzay, in 1978. In his early career Henry worked as an auto mechanic before later moving into the field of Electrical Engineering where he worked for over 25 years and was a member of Voice of America (VOA).

As a leader, provider, and protector of his family, he migrated his family to the United States in 1992 to escape the civil war in Liberia. In the United States, he worked alongside his wife Esther to support and provide for their family.

He was firm believer in God, and an active member of the Christian community. He often led his family through prayer and worship while teaching them about the gospels. “For if we live, we live in the Lord, and if we die, we die in the Lord. So then, whether we live, or whether we die, we are the Lord’s”. – Roman 14:8

Throughout his life, Henry instilled the practice of hard-work, honesty, faith, and family, along with countless ethnic and moral lessons to his children and grandchildren. Through faith, love, and laughter he helped to raise 4 generations of his descendants.

He is survived by his wife Esther Zayzay; children: Henry L. Zayzay Jr (Son), Evelyne Zayzay (Daughter), Gordon Zayzay (Son), Henrietta Zayzay (Daughter), Michael Zayzay (Son), Nowu Roberts (Daughter), Giaman Zayzay (Daughter); grandchildren: Larry Zayzay (Henry-son), Yigbe Zayzay (Henry-son), Esther Zayzay (Henry-daughter), Cyrus Zayzay (Henry-son), Judy Zayzay (Henry-Daughter), Candy Zayzay (Henry-daughter), Patience Jentzen (Henry-Daughter), Danica Zayzay (Henry-Daughter), Devine Zayzay (Evelyn-Son), Prentiss Sayeweh Jr. (Evenly-Son), Syhanna Powell (Evelyn-Daughter), Navia William (Evelyn-Daughter), Alex Zayzay (Gordon-Son), Kimberly Zayzay (Gordon-Daughter), Love Zayzay (Gordon-Daughter), Teddy Zayzay (Henritta-Son), Komossa Roberts (Nowu-Daughter). Great-Grands: Mikel (Larry-Son), Larry Zayzay Jr (Larry-Son), Destiny Zayzay (Larry-Daughter), Natali (Larry-Daughter), Kanuri Zayzay (Larry- Daughter), Zihair Zayzay (Larry-Son), Okezie Zayzay (Yigbe-Son), Aniyah Lewis (Esther-Daughter), Jamel Zayzay (Esther-Son), Zafari (Judy-Daughter), Luran (Cady-Daughter), Corey (Candy-Son), Kevin Zayzay (Devine-Son), Russel King Douglas (Syhanna-Son), Teddy Zayzay Jr (Teddy-Son), Katana Zayzay (Teddy-Daughter), King Zayzay (Teddy-Son), Evan Zeon (Komossa-Son), Ethan Zeon (Komossa-Son), Ephraim Roberts (Komossa-Son), and the many play children and grandchildren whom he loved and treated as his own.

Eccesiastes 3:1-4 “For everything there is a season, and a time for everything matters under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance”. The time for Henry L. Zayzay Sr. has come to his spirit to return to the Lord. For those who knew him, remember all the lessons that he taught you, the laughter that he shared with you, and the kindness that he has given you. Sunrise April 16, 1938 – Sunset July 13, 2020, Forever Loved, Henry Lavilewoi Zayzay Sr.

A visitation will be held from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., Friday, July 24, 2020 at Hosanna Evangelical Ministry, 6610 N. 47th Avenue in Glendale, AZ. The funeral service will be held Saturday, July 25, 2020 at the church. Burial will follow at Sunwest Cemetery, 12525 NW Grand Avenue in El Mirage, AZ.