Nat Abraham Sr.

Nathaniel Abraham Sr.

Nathaniel Abraham Sr., 87, of Columbia, SC, publisher emeritus and founder of The Carolina Panorama Newspaper, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, August 7, 2021.

Nathaniel Abraham, Sr. was the son of a sharecropper from Orangeburg, SC. He served his country as Civil Rights advocate and Korean War Veteran. Upon moving to Columbia in 1963, he launched his career in the newspaper industry. “Nat” as he was affectionately called, had a long history of working with community leaders to empower others. For more than half a century, he has used the news media as a platform to champion the underdog and help those whose voices otherwise would not be heard. He has played a pivotal role in many publications across the state of South Carolina.

After working for several Black newspapers since the mid-1960s, he founded The Carolina Panorama, a weekly African American newspaper in 1986. The newspaper serves readers in Richland, Lexington, Calhoun, Fairfield and Orangeburg counties.

The Carolina Panorama is in its 35th year of operation and under the leadership of the second generation, Nathaniel Abraham, Jr. and is entering into its third generation with the addition of Nathaniel Abraham III. The family uses the Carolina Panorama as a platform to spur economic growth and promote the positive news of the Black community.

Before his retirement in 2015, Nathaniel Sr. created the Legacy of Black Business Awards Gala to honor long-serving African-American business owners. At the inaugural Legacy of Black Business Gala in 2013, nineteen businesses were honored for being in business 40 years or more and under the operation of the second generation or more. To date, 98 businesses have received the Legacy of Black Business Award for their longevity and history of serving the Black community.

Nathaniel was married to the late Jean Grant Abraham for 44 years. They have three children: Natalie Abraham McKinnie, of Augusta, GA; Tenita Abraham of Fort Mill, SC; and Nathaniel Abraham, Jr. (Patricia) of Columbia; and five grandchildren.

Memorial services for Nathaniel Abraham Sr. will be handled by Bostick-Thompson Funeral Home.

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