Louise Marie Lartey was born on August 17, 1945, in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. She was the loving daughter of Bishop Solomon Dorme Lartey and Mrs. Alicia Ethel Smith Lartey. Both parents predeceased her.

Louise attended elementary and high school at the A.M.E. Zion Academy in Monrovia, and later at the Lott Carey Mission School in Brewerville where some of he classmates at some point in time included: Harmon Thomas, Bacchus Matthews, Alfred Mitchell, Loco Mitchell, Minnie Benson and Earnestine Coleman. In 1965, Louise was sent by her parents to England where she attended the Park School for Girls in Yeovil, Sommerset, from where she successfully completed high school and obtained a diploma in 1968. She continued her academic sojourn at the Gregg Secretarial College in Ealing Common, London England, from where she graduated in 1971.

Upon returning to Liberia, Louise worked as Secretary to the Manager of City Bank, and Secretary to the Planning Manager at the National Port Authority of Liberia, respectively. She later worked as the Administrative Manager at the Foundation House for pre-school and kindergarten children, and subsequently as the Librarian/Counselor at the A.M.E. Zion Academy up to her departure for the United States of America in 1994.

Upon her arrival in the United States, she made her residence in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was employed by several companies (K & W Cafeteria, Country Roadhouse Buffet and The Forsyth Medical Center, where she retired in 2017).

Louise accepted Jesus as her Savior at an early age at the Brown Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church on Benson Street in Monrovia, Liberia, where she served in a number of capacities including Deaconess, member of the Choir, Supervisor of the Children's Ministry, and participant of the Missionary Department/Work. She was also honored as Mother of the Year at Brown Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church. Upon moving to the United States, Louise transferred her membership to the Goler Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church. She was an active member and participant of the Deaconess Board, the Stewardess Board and the Parent Body Missionary Society.

Louise Marie had great culinary skills having been trained by her mother Alicia Ethel Smith and her grandmother Annie. Her favorite pastimes included shopping, talking with friends and dear sister Nadu, and also loved sharing her love for Jesus — she was indeed a child of God. Always caring, always hardworking.

Louise was joined in wedlock to the late Arnold Stewart and this union was dissolved after a few years without any offspring.

In the early 60's at Lott Carey Mission School, Louise met her life-long "bosom" friends Francs Etonia Hayes (Monki) and Vireder Estinia Phelps Pederson (Vida). They called themselves the three musketeers.

The Late Louise Marie Lartey leaves to mourn her loss two sons, Filmore Neal (Joyce) and Terence Bestman of Winston-Salem, NC; a daughter, Victoria Lartey "Nannie"; one sister, Annie Nadu Cooper (Henry Reed); one brother, Benjamin Nii-Dorme Lartey (Sadatu) of Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa, and a devoted nephew, Bishop Seth O. Lartey (Jacqueline) of Montgomery, Alabama; 12 grandchildren, two-great grandchildren, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Her daughterAudrey predeceased her.

Louise Marie Lartey (Louwiser as she was affectionately called by her mother) will be dearly missed by those who knew her and loved her. Yes, she was a precious child of God to whom we give thanks for lending her to us, for allowing us to have her and share her for all these years. She touched so many lives during her time on this earth and now the triumph has sounded and she has been called home. Like Job she can declare "I know my Redeemer lives."