Rev. Edward Nathaniel Abram

Rev. Edward Nathaniel Abram, age 83, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 18, 2018 surrounded by family at his side. He fought a valiant battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) which is an incurable lung disease. Edward was one of six children and was born on April 22, 1934, in Fayetteville, West Virginia to Samuel A. Abram Sr. and Naomi E. Abram.
Edward graduated from Stratton High School in Beckley, West Virginia. He met his future wife Doris Whitely in Beckley. His vocational training was received at Bluefield State College, Bluefield, West Virginia. He was a graduate of West Virginia State College Institute, West Virginia, where he obtained a B.A. degree and studied theology at the West Virginia Seminary and College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Edward and Doris were married in 1959 while he was in College. From this marriage, they had five wonderful children.
On March 8, 1959, he was licensed to preach in the Central Baptist Church in Beckley, West Virginia and was ordained in the same church on the fourth Sunday in July, 1960. Edward pastored the church from 1963 – 1971. He was responsible for the church parsonage as well as the Abram-King Apartments. The Abram-King Apartments were the first affordable housing complex in West Virginia.
Edward was a highly respected and influential evangelist in the City and State and was in constant demand. He met with and prayed for the U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Edward served in the United States Air Force. He was a Superintendent of Scarborough Elementary School, Vice President of the Beckley branch N.A.A.C.P., Chairman of the Trustee Board for the West Virginia State convention, and Vice Moderator of the New River Valley Missionary Association of Beckley. Edward was a Free Mason, a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Beckley Planning and Zoning Committee, the National Education Association and the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. Edward was the first person of his race to deliver a Freedom Rally address from the Raleigh County Court House Square.
Edward and his family moved to Toledo, Ohio in 1971 and he taught at Jones Jr. High School. He also worked at the City of Toledo Board of Community Relations. Edward moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and later married Betty Johnson who was a loving and devoted wife until he was called home.

Edward is survived by his wife Betty Abram, his former wife, Doris Abram, his brother George(Cleo)Abram, sisters Kathryn Abram (Lewis) Duckett, and Drema Abram Brown. He is also survived by his children Raymond Abram, Mark (Cara) Abram, Jewell (Herman) Lightner, Angela Abram (Doug McCollough), and Michael Abram; 11 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. Edward was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Naomi Abram and his two brothers Samuel Jr., and Raymond Abram.
The family will receive visitors on Saturday, March 3, at 1:00 p.m. at The House of Day Funeral Home, 2250 Nebraska Ave., Toledo Ohio. A celebration of life service will begin at 2:00 p.m. Condolences can be shared at info@houseofday.com. Interment will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park, Beckley West Virginia, in May.
The family extends their sincere gratitude to the Doctors and staff in the ICU department at University Hospitals in Richmond Heights, Ohio, for their clinical excellence and kind and compassionate care.

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