Greenwood native Flo Abraham died Friday following a lengthy illness.
The wife of District 1 Leflore County Supervisor Sam Abraham, she will be remembered by the community as a tireless champion of the Community Food Pantry.
“I would say it was her initiative and her concern for the poor in Leflore County that is responsible for the existence of the food pantry,” said the Rev. Greg Plata of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Abraham was a longtime member of that church.
“She was a kind and sweet woman,” said Plata. “I would call her the epitome of a classy Southern woman.”
In 2008, Abraham was awarded the Book of Golden Deeds for her work as President of the Community Food Pantry by the Greenwood Exchange Club. At that time, she had been volunteering, soliciting donations, interacting with clients and organizing countless food drives for more than 20 years.
“The food pantry is my heart,” she told the Commonwealth at that time. “It always has been.”
Community Food Pantry director Tommy Ellett remembered Abraham as a talented fundraiser and champion for the organization. She could communicate its needs to the community, he said, and was successful at enlisting people to support it with donations of money, canned foods and dry goods.
“She was a friend to so many of the clients and volunteers,” Ellett said. “What I remember most about her is her ability to raise funds.
“She was a great salesperson. She had a way of flashing those pretty eyes, and she was so sincere, she was able to convince people that it was the right thing to do and that the food pantry was worthy of their contributions.”
When the shelves at the pantry were lean, or when the need to serve more people arose, as it did during the economic plunge of 2008-09, Abraham was on the front lines finding new donors and keeping up with the community’s needs.
In spite of her advancing illness, Abraham addressed the youth of Greenwood just a few years ago, Plata said, encouraging and thanking them for their participation in the annual Youth CAN Make a Difference canned food drive.
Abraham survived a brain tumor at an early age and gave birth to two daughters against the advice of doctors. She is survived by both daughters, Randee Abraham Neal and Beth Abraham Nicholson.
Family friend Allan Hammons said Abraham was “a wonderful woman with probably more challenges than anybody should ever have to face, and she met them with grace.”
She also served on the boards of the United Way of Leflore County and local branches of the American Cancer Society and American Red Cross.
Visitation for Abraham will be held on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home with a vigil prayer service at 7:05 p.m.
Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.
Memorial donations may be made to the Greenwood Community Food Pantry, 2507 Browning Road, Greenwood, MS 38930; Locus Benedictus, P. O. Box 9791, Greenwood, MS 38930; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1893, Memphis, TN 38101-9950; or a charity of choice.
• Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
