1 South Carolina General Assembly 2 122nd Session, 2017-2018 3 4 S. 227 5 6 STATUS INFORMATION 7 8 Senate Resolution 9 Sponsors: Senator Jackson 10 Document Path: l:\council\bills\rm\1023cz17.docx 11 12 Introduced in the Senate on January 10, 2017 13 Adopted by the Senate on January 10, 2017 14 15 Summary: Dr. James W. Abrams, Jr. 16 17 18 HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 19 20 Date Body Action Description with journal page number 21 1/10/2017 Senate Introduced and adopted ( Senate Journalpage 116) 22 23 View the latest legislative information at the website 24 25 26 VERSIONS OF THIS BILL 27 28 1/10/2017 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A SENATE RESOLUTION 10 11 TO HONOR THE REVEREND DR. JAMES W. ABRAMS, JR., 12 PASTOR OF ST. JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH IN HOPKINS, 13 ON THE OCCASION OF HIS THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF 14 GOSPEL MINISTRY AT ST. JAMES AND TO WISH HIM 15 GOD’S RICHEST BLESSINGS AS HE CONTINUES TO 16 SERVE THE LORD. 17 18 Whereas, it is with great pleasure that the South Carolina Senate 19 honors those individuals who give tirelessly of themselves to 20 succor the souls of men; and 21 22 Whereas, Dr. James W. Abrams, Jr., pastor of St. James Baptist 23 Church in Hopkins, stands among their number as an outstanding 24 minister of the Gospel, one much admired by colleagues, 25 congregation, and area residents at large; and 26 27 Whereas, born to Deacon James W. Abrams, Sr., and Mrs. Beulah 28 R. Abrams, the Reverend Dr. James W. Abrams, Jr., came into this 29 world on September 29, 1949, in Richland County. He was the 30 fourth of five children: three sisters, Faye Ann (Abrams) Holland, 31 Beverly Jane (Abrams) Hart, and the late Vivian Abrams, as well 32 as one brother, Willie James Abrams, Sr.; and 33 34 Whereas, having graduated from Booker T. Washington High 35 School in Columbia, the young James earned an associate degree 36 from the University of South Carolina in commercial science and a 37 bachelor’s degree in general studies with an emphasis in real estate 38 and finance. In 1990, he received his master of divinity from 39 Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, and in 40 2008 he received his doctorate in ministry from Hood Theological 41 Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina; and 42

[227] 2 1 Whereas, for three decades, Dr. Abrams has served as the 2 esteemed pastor of St. James Baptist Church. In addition, he was a 3 clinical chaplain with the South Carolina Department of 4 Corrections at Walden Correctional Institution for twentyfour 5 years. He has been a member of the College of Pastoral 6 Supervision and Psychotherapy and diplomate supervisor of 7 clinical pastoral education for eleven years; and 8 9 Whereas, to honor him at this very special time in his life, 10 colleagues, congregation, and other friends celebrated Dr. Abrams 11 at his thirtieth pastoral banquet on Saturday, September 24, 2016, 12 followed by an anniversary service on Sunday, September 25, 13 2016; and 14 15 Whereas, Dr. Abrams considers it one of the greatest triumphs of 16 his life that he was able to persuade the lovely Marilyn Hudgens, 17 also of Columbia, to become his wife. They are the proud parents 18 of two children, James W. (Rashanda Hill) Abrams III and Shayla 19 Melissa Abrams. Dr. and Mrs. Abrams also delight in their three 20 charming grandchildren, James IV (“Jay”), Holland Grace, and 21 Tylen Hill; and 22 23 Whereas, the Senate, cognizant of his many years of spiritual 24 nourishment of the people of South Carolina, wishes to express its 25 grateful thanks to Dr. Abrams and wish him God’s best as he 26 continues to run the race the Lord has set before him. Now, 27 therefore, 28 29 Be it resolved by the Senate: 30 31 That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, 32 honor the Reverend Dr. James W. Abrams, Jr., pastor of St. James 33 Baptist Church in Hopkins, on the occasion of his thirtieth 34 anniversary of Gospel ministry at St. James and wish him God’s 35 richest blessings as he continues to serve the Lord. 36 37 Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to 38 Dr. James W. Abrams, Jr. 39 XX 40

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