The Government of the Republic of Liberia announces with profound regret the death in his 84th year of Honorable Roland Theophilus Barnes, former member of the House of Representatives, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, and former Solicitor General of the Republic of Liberia. This sad event occurred on Monday, November 15, 2010 in Columbia, Maryland, United States of America.

Counselor Barnes was one of the few Liberians who served in all three branches of government, respectively. He was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia by President William R. Tolbert, Jr. Before then he served as Solicitor General of the Republic of Liberia. He also served as County Attorney of his native county of Maryland.

In 1985 Mr. Barnes was elected to the House of Representatives for Montserrado County, on the ticket of the Liberia Action Party.

Roland Theophilus Barnes was born on February 19, 1926 in Harper, Maryland County, unto the union of Rufus Nathaniel and Rose Watkins Barnes. He lost his mother when he was only nine days old.

He was baptized and grew up in Mount Scott United Methodist Church in Harper and later entered the Cape Palmas Seminary. After the Seminary, Roland entered the Cape Palmas High School where he completed his secondary education, before matriculating to Liberia College. There he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and later entered the study of law through the apprenticeship method, reading law under his uncle, Nathan C. Barnes.

Mr. Barnes is survived by his wife, Eudora; two daughters: Mrs. Rose Barnes Farhat and Ms. Getrude Barnes; three sons: Roland, Jr., Milton Nathaniel and Erich Barnes; five foster children, and 18 grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.