Celebrating the Life of The Reverend Doctor
RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY III MARCH 19, 1959 – MARCH 17, 2016
Jackson Memorial Baptist Church The Reverend Dr. Gregory A. Sutton, Senior Pastor
Friday, March 25, 2016 • NOON Officiating Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., Dean Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel
The Reverend Doctor
RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY III
Ralph David Abernathy III was born on March 19, 1959, to world-renowned leader The Reverend Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. and Mrs. Juanita Jones Abernathy. During the heat of the Civil Rights Movement, the young Abernathy entered the world just a few years after the 1957 bombing of his parents’ home and his father’s church. The threat of bombings was always in the air of the Abernathy household. He would join the fight for freedom, justice and equality during this period of fear and uncertainty. On Friday, June 14, 1968, at nine years of age, Abernathy was arrested while pursuing basic human rights. He was forced to endure the terrors of incarceration. This experience would fuel his quest to champion the causes of humanity during the Civil Rights Movement. As a young freedom fighter, Abernathy participated in numerous marches and demonstrations, including the Selma to Montgomery March and the now famous March on Washington. Abernathy and his siblings were the first to integrate the Spring Street Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia, along with the children of Coretta and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He went on to become a multi-sport athlete at Northside High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, tennis, and track. Later, Ralph David attended Benedict and Morehouse Colleges where he majored in English and minored in Political Science. He continued his education at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta and earned Masters and Doctorate degrees in Theology from North Carolina College of Theology in Wilmington, North Carolina.
“If the Elevator to Success Is Broken, Take the Stairs.” In 1988, at the age of 29, he became the youngest politician to be elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. In 1992, Ralph David was elected to the Georgia Senate for Atlanta’s 38th District. As a legislative and community leader, Abernathy championed ground-breaking legislation and the promotion of equal rights for all people as the diversity of the state expanded. His efforts to change the state flag and the drafting of the grandparents legislation giving them visitation rights to their grandchildren and the firearm legislation protecting minors were among some of his most notable achievements. Abernathy answered his calling to become an ordained minister in 2001. He was ordained by the late Rev. Dr. Howard W. Creecy, Sr. and the late Rev. Dr. Howard W. Creecy, Jr. at the historic West Hunter Street Baptist Church where his father was the pastor for 30 years. This ordination prepared him for his work in the community as a social justice activist. Dr. Abernathy became a member of the African American Ministers Leadership Council. He served on the Board of Directors for the Ralph David Abernathy Towers, a home for the elderly and handicapped. He also lectured throughout the country at a host of middle and high schools, colleges and universities including Armstrong State University, Clark Atlanta University, and the University of the Virgin Islands. He delivered powerful messages of hope at the North Charleston NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Banquet and in Berlin, Germany, at the historic “Check Point Charley Museum,” in commemoration of the fall of the communist regime and the end of the Holocaust. Dr. Abernathy rallied citizens on the Sunday preceding the 2012 Presidential Election to help get out the historic vote with leaders of Cleveland, Ohio (a battleground state for Barack President Obama). He went on to found the Abernathy Center for Civil Rights.
The Reverend Doctor
RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY III Ralph met the love of his life, Annette Pollie Williams at Benedict College, Columbia, South Carolina, in 1977. He showcased his love for Annette during her 1979 Miss Homecoming Coronation singing to her in front of a packed auditorium “Just the Way You Are.” While dating at Benedict he deemed himself the line boyfriend of the Delta Sigma Theta 1979 line of 34 sisters. On September 14, 1991, Ralph David married “his wife for life,” Annette married “her heart from the start” as they so affectionately referred to each other and so remained unto death do us part. He also stated, “Annette is the smart one and I am the wise one” thereby making them a great team. It was alongside Annette that the entrepreneurial Abernathy truly thrived. The two of them working side by side were the proprietors of the only black-owned and operated gas station in the predominately AfricanAmerican community, located at Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta, Georgia. Three of his greatest accomplishments were achieved in his union with Annette, in the birth of their children, Ralph David IV, Christiana “Ahlayah”, and Micah Alexander of whom he was so proud and much is expected.
Abernathy’s life motto—to which he adhered diligently—was given to him by his celebrated father: “If the Elevator to Success Is Broken, Take the Stairs.” His father, The Reverend Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. and his brother, Ralph David Abernathy, Jr. preceded Ralph III in death. He is survived by his wife, Annette Abernathy; children, Ralph David IV, Christiana and Micah Alexander; mother, Juanita Jones Abernathy; sisters, Juandalynn R. Abernathy (Sven-Torben Haderup), .. Donzaleigh Abernathy (Dar Dixon Bijarchi), brother, Kwame Luthuli Abernathy, J.D.; nephew Soren-Niklas; two aunts, Susan Ellen Abernathy Hildreth, and Eloise Jones Percival; brothers-in-law Sam Williams, Jr. (Glenda) and Johnnie Williams; sisters-in-law Samuella Holmes, Costella Green (The Reverend Perry Green, Sr.), Linda Miller, Deborah Nelson (James), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Ralph David Abernathy III… A true giant, in his own right...
Celebrating the Life OF
RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY III MARCH 19, 1959 – MARCH 17, 2016
Order of Service Jackson Memorial Baptist Church
The Reverend Dr. Gregory A. Sutton, Senior Pastor
Officiating Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., Dean Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel Prelude
....................................................................................................................................................... Minister T. Lynn Smith Jackson Memorial Baptist Church Music Ministry
Processional .................................................................................................................................................... The Abernathy Family Call to Worship Hymn of Praise ................................................. “We’ve Come This Far By Faith” .................................................. arr. A. Goodson Scripture Readings Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 121
The Reverend Dr. Gregory L. Pollard The Enon Church
New Testament Scripture: John 14: 1-6
The Reverend Dr. Mitzi L. Bickers Emmanuel Baptist Church
Words of Comfort & Prayer ................................................................................................ The Reverend William Vincent Guy Friendship Baptist Church, Pastor Emeritus Celebration in Song ..................................................... “Total Praise” .............................................................. arr. R. Smallwood Jackson Memorial Baptist Church Music Ministry
Political Service Tributes The Honorable John Lewis U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Calvin Smyre Georgia House of Representatives
The Honorable Henry “Hank” Johnson, Jr. U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Bill Campbell Former Mayor of Atlanta
Celebration in Song
............................................... “Civil Rights Medley” ........................................ arr. Abbington/Crutcher Dr. W. James Abbington, Candler School of Theology Emory University The Reverend T. Renee Crutcher Sankofa Ministries
Civil Rights & Community Service Tributes The Rev. Dr. Gregory A. Sutton Jackson Memorial Baptist Church, Pastor
Ms. Terrie L. Randolph Veteran of the Civil Rights Movement
Mr. J.T. Johnson Veteran of the Civil Rights Movement
Dr. William G. Anderson Leader of the Albany Civil Rights Movement
Mr. Michael Langford Community Activist
Celebration in Song ............................................... “If You Could See Me Now” ...................................................... arr. the script Deacon Sam Williams, Jr.
Friends Tributes Mr. Isacc Newton Farris, Jr. Mr. Clinton Barrow
Mr. Reginald Beamon Mr. Robert Cannon
Celebration in Song ...................................... “I Want Jesus To Walk With Me” ................................................. arr. E. Boatner Mrs. Juandalynn R. Abernathy
Family Tributes
Dr. William Abernathy, Cousin Mrs. Donzaleigh Abernathy, Mrs. Juandalynn R. Abernathy, and Kwame Luthuli Abernathy, J.D. Mr. Ralph David Abernathy IV, Ms. Christiana Abernathy, and Mr. Micah Alexander Abernathy
Acknowledgements Video Presentation Celebration in Song .......................................... “My Soul Has Been Anchored” ...................................................... arr. D. Miller Mr. James Nelson Eulogy ................................................................................................................... The Reverend Anthony Motley, Senior Pastor Lindsay Street Baptist Church
Benediction Recessional ........................................................... “Let The Church Say Amen” .................................................... arr. M. Winans
“Going Up A Yonder”
........................................................ arr. W. Hawkins
Political Service
Civil Rights & Community Service
Family
Family
“If the Elevator to Success Is Broken, Take the Stairs.”
–Ralph David Abernathy, Sr.
Pallbearers
Honorary Pallbearers
Bernis Abernathy Larry Abernathy William Abernathy, Jr. Wilmer Hildreth Kevin Yarbrough Narvin Yarbrough
Clinton Barrow John Bascom Eldrin Bell Rasheed Curtis Isaac Newton Farris, Jr. Frank Gibson Perry Green, Jr.
Perry Green, Sr. J.T. Johnson Dexter Scott King Martin Luther King III Raynard Oliver Al Singletary
Charles K. Steele Calvin Vismale Fred Taylor Ernie Watts Johnnie Williams Kevin Williams
Honorary Flower Bearers Alethea W. Boone Andrea L. Boone Celestine Bray-Bottoms Jolaunda Boone-Campbell Kelly Brown Candice Creecy Doris Creecy Waters Marguerite Creecy
T. Renee Crutcher Rhonda Clay Donna Dobbs Angela Farris Marvetta Fields Costella Green Janice Green Samuella Holmes
Perdita Jordan DeeDee Kelly Bernice A. King Christine King-Farris Vanessa Manley Malani Massey Linda Miller Deborah Nelson
Comarletia Pierce Brenda Russell Michelle Sumpter Elizabeth Taylor Katrina Taylor- Parks Carol Thompson Dorothy Yancy
Acknowledgements We, the family of Ralph David Abernathy III praise God for the life he lived, when it seemed like our loss was too great to bear. We looked up and our friends, family and neighbors were there with prayers, support and kind words written and spoken. With smiling faces and open hearts, you comforted us and shared our grief. This has not only encouraged us, but has strengthened and will continue to sustain us. May God grant unto each of you His richest blessings. –The Ralph David Abernathy III Family
Special Thanks Jolaunda Boone-Campbell Kelly Brown Rhonda Clay Marvetta Fields
Professional Services Entrusted To Janice Green Perdita Jordan Susan Saltz Malani Massey
Carl M. Williams Funeral Directors, Inc. 492 Larkin Street, Southwest, Atlanta, Georgia 30313 404.522.8454
In Lieu Of Flowers
Program Design & Printing
Contributions should be made to the: RDA III Foundation 2785 Engle Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30318
Studio Named Bermudez, Donald Edward Bermudez Perfect Image Printing, Charles Kelley