Mother Rosa Lee Bowen Abram transitioned early March 2, 2023, from her home in Dalzell to her heavenly abode. She is the daughter of the late Thomas and Fannie Bowen. She was born April 11, 1932, and attended Sumter County Schools in the Stateburg Area. She made Christ her savior, at a young age, while attending Wayman Chapel AME church. In 1951, Rosa lived with Thomas and Ida Alston, (now with the Lord) her brother and sister- in -law because her parents had passed years before. It was in that year that she and Albert Abram Sr. were united in marriage and moved to Wedgefield in Sumter County. In 1957, they moved to Dalzell where they attended Ebenezer United Presbyterian Church. (Later renamed Ebenezer Presbyterian Church USA.) Rosa established herself as a devoted Christian woman and a home maker. She, initially, worked at local farms and as a domestic at Shaw AFB. She retired after working many years in food service for Sumter County District Two Schools. She planted a yearly garden and raised a variety of vegetables which were shared with family, friends, and neighbors. She was a self-taught seamstress who learned to sew on a pedal sewing machine. She bought an electric Singer sewing machine in the mid- 1960’s. She gained insight on construction and fabric detailing by examining the clothes in the different stores of downtown Sumter. As a result of her displayed skill as a seamstress, she sewed and altered many clothing items for family members and friends in the community, where the only charge was the cost of the material. Ever learning, she received her High School Diploma from Ebenezer Adult Education Program in 1969. In 1973, Albert passed away. She was left to raise four minor children. Rosa then learned to drive and bought a car. With the help of the Almighty, she hired Mr. Sumpter, a local contractor to build her a house. Many hands went into this project, including her brother, Thomas, and nephews, Edward Alston and the late Louis Alston. Thomas even brought some of the Croom family, his in-laws, who helped. Her service to God and devotion to her church family never wavered. She taught Sunday School for more than 30 years, first children and then adult women. She was a Senior choir member, and a selected and installed deacon. Though driving was not a pleasure for her, she would take elderly church members or friends to church, or to the grocery stores, to civic meetings, or downtown to handle business matters. At the coaxing of her children, she took her first airplane flight to Texas in 2001 to witness her youngest son receive a degree. So, flying to Illinois in 2003 for another graduation was easy. She worked tirelessly in all facets: at church, in her garden, at her sewing machine making quilts and comforters (just ask her grands about their bed covering). Time brought health changes that made a difference in what she was able to do. She is remembered as the private, soft-spoken matriarch whose actions spoke for her. Her grandchildren, especially, remember the times of eating at her table, having some of her pound cake, and listening to one of her memories of past events. Her counsel and stories will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, and five sisters. Among those who will never forget her are four sons, Albert Jr. (Betty) and James, all of Dalzell, Willie, of Havre de Grace, Maryland, and Lyndon (Annette) of Charlotte, North Carolina; two daughters, Betty Murray of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Denise Mitchell of Sumter; one brother-in-law, Aaron Abram of New York, New York, and one sister-in-law Ella Bradford (Napoleon) of Clover, South Carolina; fifteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines, the family is requesting that face masks and social distancing be observed by relatives and friends during visitations at the home, 4290 Queen Chapel Road, Dalzell. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p. m., Friday, March 10, 2023 at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.), 4620 Queen Chapel Road, Dalzell, with the Rev. Carnell Hampton, Moderator. The Remains will be placed in the church at 12:00 noon for viewing until time of services. The procession will leave the home at 12:30 p. m. Burial will be in the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Dalzell.
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