John Borbor Yokie

John Borbor Yokie, age 75. Born to John Yokie Sr. and Iye Sesay in Kolahun district, Lofa County, Liberia. He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Olivia Yokie (nee Williams), cherished children, son Dennis Yokie, daughters Joy Yokie, Joan (Wycliffe) Odhiambo, Jewel Yokie, and loving granddaughter who was the absolute light of his life, Zoe Odhiambo.

John was a protector who led his family through 3 civil wars in 2 countries with a pregnant wife and an infant during 2 of those wars. At one point, he had to talk his young family to safety when rebels armed with guns stopped them and pointed a gun at his head. His brilliance and ability to keep a cool head under immense pressure also helped keep those around him alive during subsequent wars in Sierra Leone. He was able to help keep a whole compound of people alive by teaching them survival skills and how to negotiate or interact with hostile and violent individuals without rattling them.

He loved the outdoors and plants and used medicinal plants to treat other refugees at camps.He had great ideas: seeing that a neighbor’s house was being set ablaze by rebels, he initiated the process of soaking the family’s entire board house structure (3 stories) with water to at least slow down the progression of potential fire from crossing over to our house from the neighbor’s house. This initiative saved the structure from catching fire.

He was a teacher by trade teaching 4th grade English at the American Corporative School in Monrovia, Liberia where he also taught ESL to expat families. He was the first black employee to be trained to use the computer at the ESL school .

At the age of 54, John along with his family, moved to Cleveland as a refugee. He was very involved with his Parish, St. Colman where he and 2 of his children (Joy and Dennis) served as Eucharistic Ministers He was also instrumental in an effort to keep St. Colman church open during the diocesan church closings back in 2009 by delivering a great speech demonstrating the church’s vital role as a haven for the community and a new home for newcomers. He was also very active in his local community through his work as an ESL teacher at Esperanza Inc helping Hispanic and Latin youth acclimate to a new country, and worked with after school tutoring programs for refugee youth through Building Hope in the City.

He was an avid gardener and was the first refugee in his community to get involved in community gardens partnering with Kentucky Gardens to purchase a few beds for growing seasons and later joining Eco Village Produce as one of its 3 founding members. Home was his second favorite place to be. The garden was his first.

He was able to do all of this with the huge support of his family lead by his steadfast wife. One day they would be raising chickens in the yard, the next they would be building a gazebo. He always had ideas and welcomed his family’s inquiries and encouraged their ambitions.

He led an eccentric life with curiosity, a strong-will dreamer personality, an educator and creative with a great sense of humor. He encouraged all of these qualities in his children and was a major presence in their lives. He was the dad who built doll houses with cardboard boxes, built coal stoves out of galvanized steel buckets, made the most elaborate meals that the family was never sure would result in edible food or was mostly a science experiment. He was a compassionate person who was always ready to share his skills and resources with others in need.

Words to describe him: committed, strong-willed, creative, eccentric, dreamer, believer, educator and fighter

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to Resource Cleveland’s refugee farm.

Family will receive friends Friday February 20, 2026 from 9 - 10:30am at Craciun Berry Funeral Home 7200 Detroit Ave. Cleveland Ohio 44102. Funeral Mass to follow at 11am at Historic St. Colman Church 2027 West 65th St. Cleveland Ohio 44102. Burial Riverside Cemetery.