THOMASVILLE—The Thomas County community is mourning the loss of Nathaniel H. Abrams, Jr., a beloved neighbor and friend.

Born to Nathaniel Abrams, Sr. and Lena Phelps Abrams in Thomas County, Nathaniel had an inquisitive mind and was always ready to serve.

At a young age, Nathaniel offered to assist his school principal, accompanying him to collect the mail without parental consent. However, his parents saw this as part of Nathaniel’s boundless curiosity, enrolling him in Thomasville City Schools, where he attended Douglass High School, before graduating from THS in 1969, just before full integration.

With an unwavering thirst for knowledge and a deep reservoir of resilience, Nathaniel became one of the few Black students in the late sixties to attend and graduate from Mercer University’s School of Pharmacy in Atlanta- an accomplishment he carried with great pride, along with the many stories that accompanied his journey.

Nathaniel’s greatest joy was yet to come.

On April 21, 1979, he married Melanie Rawls. Together, they had two sons, Nathaniel H. Abrams III and Kellen Abrams, whose presence brought immeasurable happiness to the family.

As with any father, Nathaniel let the Lord guide him in his life and the upbringing of his children. He answered the call of faith early, becoming a member of St. Thomas A.M.E. Church, before reaffirming his commitment as a devoted member and Trustee of St. Mark A.M.E. Church.

When not at church, Nathaniel was devoted to his career.

His career began as a pharmacist before he ascended to the role of Pharmacy Director at Southwestern State Hospital, where he was the first and only person of color to hold that position. He would go on to retire with 34 years of distinguished service from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Services.

Never one to be complacent, Nathaniel went on to embrace entrepreneurship, founding Abrams Mobile Document Destruction Services in 1999, a time when fewer than 300 shredding businesses existed nationwide. His locally owned company remains a testament to his vision, fostering both economic growth and environmental responsibility within the community.

Nathaniel didn’t stop there, he continued to pour into his community through civic and professional endeavors. He became the first Black licensed realtor in Thomas County to actively work with an agency and later served as the first Black and youngest chairman of the Thomasville City Board of Education. He was a proud life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Thomasville Alumni Chapter, and an esteemed member of the Rotary Club of Thomasville.

His resilience, strength, and sense of duty led him to numerous leadership roles, including past chairman of the Archbold Hospital Board and its Compensation Committee, as well as serving on the Executive Committee and as Secretary of the Archbold Medical Center Board. He also served on the Board of Directors at Thomas University. He additionally served on the Thomasville Entertainment Foundation and as chairman and founding member of Spark Thomasville, a mentoring program for aspiring entrepreneurs. He also completed terms on the boards of the Thomasville National Bank and the Lawson Neel Med Bank, where he served as chairman. His involvement in countless other organizations speaks to his deep-rooted commitment to community service.

Nathaniel’s lifelong dedication to Thomasville was felt far beyond just those in the community, as Congressman Sanford Bishop and his wife, Vivian have offered condolences on his passing.

“Mr. Abrams was a servant to humanity,” he penned. “He was known by many titles- entrepreneur, realtor, pharmacist, trailblazer, chairman, but the most cherished titles he answered to were husband and father.”

Bishop noted Nathaniel was not a selfish man, as he always sought to share his knowledge and uplift others who were striving to make a difference.

“The greatest gift he leaves to all of us is the dedicated and faithful life that he led,” Bishop said. “His legacy will be carried on by current and future generations of your family.”

Bishop offered his thoughts and prayers to Nathaniel’s family, especially his wife, Debra, and Nathaniel’s children.

“May your faith and the Holy Spirit console and comfort you in the days, weeks, and months ahead,” Bishop concluded. “The Lord will wipe away all of your tears and will facilitate a glorious reunion at a time of his choosing.”

Cherishing his irreplaceable memory, are his devoted wife, Debra J. Abrams; his beloved sons, Nathaniel III “Nate” Abrams (Joya) of Atlanta; and Kellen Abrams of Atlanta; and his cherished grandsons, Bennett and Christopher Abrams. He is also survived by his loving sister, Doris Clark of Thomasville; his sister-in-law, Myra Abrams of Macon; and his brothers-in-law, Trenis Jackson (Helen) of Oak Park, IL, and Eric Jackson of McDonough. His nephews, Carlton Denson (LaTanya) of Nashville, TN, David Clark (LaStacia) of Biloxi, MS, Forrest Jackson (Oak Park, IL), Jonathan Abrams (Macon, GA), and nieces, Kara Jackson (Oak Park, IL); and Monica Abrams (Macon, GA).