1994 Service Award Recipient
Mrs. Janet Baby Moore Gurley

Mrs. Janet Baby Moore Gurley, served as matron and Home Economics teacher at Ricks Institute for over thirteen years. She spent her time being a mother to all the students who tarried the hallowed halls of Ricks. Mrs. Gurley was much more than a matron.

Mrs. Gurley, affectionately known as Ms. Moore, was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where she spent her formative years. She obtained her high school diploma from Convent High School, and her bachelors degree from a London school of design. She spent most of her life living and working in Paris, London, and Los Angeles.

In the late 1960s, Ms. Moore was recruited by President Tolbert to come to Ricks Institute and take a teaching and matron position. She took the job but did not treat it like a job. Instead, Ms. Moore spent her years at Ricks as surrogate mother to all the children in her care and to some who were not. She scolded, pampered, punished and defended the students at Ricks. She taught many students through her actions, her deeds.

Ms. Moore had three children, two of which currently reside in Liberia.