President Quett Masire Succeeded by Barbara Mogae Profession Teacher Spouse Quett Masire | Preceded by Ruth Williams Khama Children 6 Died 17 May 2013 | |
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Alma mater Tiger Kloof Educational Institute | ||
Gladys Molefi Olebile Masire (30 July 1932 – 17 May 2013) was a Motswana teacher and political figure who served as the longest ruling First Lady of Botswana from 1980 until 1998.
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Early Life and Education
Olebile Masire was born in 1932 in the village of Modimola, Mafikeng. She was the daughter of Fenkwane Mogwera and Mabu Mogwera. From her maternal side, she belonged to the Tawana-a-Tshidi Mina Tholo royal family. After graduating from Tigerkloof, she followed in her mother footsteps becoming a teacher for many years at Mafikeng and later at Kanye.
Career
In the 1980s, Lula Horace, the wife of U.S. Ambassador Horace Dawson, helped Olebile Masire establish Botswana's first charity. This charity was called the Child-to-Child Foundation of Botswana, and she was a Honorary President of the Foundation in 1996.
In 1990, Olebile Masire was a member of the Mandela National Reception Committee that helped prepared for Nelson Mandela's June 1990 visit to Gaborone after his release from Robben Island.
Personal life
She was married to President Sir Ketumile Masire in 1958 and had six children.
Honors
Olebile Masire was the Patron of the Special Olympics Botswana from 1989 until 2013. In the 1996/97 school year, the University of Botswana established the Lady Olebile Masire Prize in her name. This award is given to a student with the highest grades in the Faculty of Engineering.
Olebile Masire was posthumously given the Presidential Order of Honour Award in 2016 by President Ian Khama.
Death
On 17 May 2013, Olebile Masire died at Milpark Hospital. She was buried in Kanye, Botswana, on 25 May 2013.