St. Matthew

Pearl Elaine Abraham, born October 5, 1950 in Raleigh, N.C., completed her earthly journey on January 11, 2012 at Duke Raleigh Hospital. After the death of her mother, Eliza McDonald (Davis), Pearl was raised in Warrenton, N.C. by her maternal grandparents, Roy and Lillie Davis. It was there that she learned to "love the Lord" accepting Christ and being baptized at the family church, Shiloh Baptist Church in Arcola, N.C. in 1960. Throughout her life, to the very end, she continued that "love relationship", demonstrating that love by her willingness to "Love thy neighbor" and to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."Pearl attended public school in Warren County, graduating from John R. Hawkins High School in 1968. She later attended what is now North Carolina Central University before moving to Raleigh where she met and married James Abraham (1973).Pearl worked in various capacities, first as an accounting and administrative assistant and in later years, as a nursing assistant in hospitals and private homes throughout the Raleigh metropolitanarea. That was just work...everyone that knew her knew that Pearl's primary vocation and cen­tral focus were her children and granddaughter. She was unreservedly loving to her daughter Jen‑netta McDonald, her son James Tracey Abraham and her granddaughter, Andrea McDonald. She was fiercely protective of them and selflessly devoted to their well-being. They were inseparable, never just Pearl, always Pearl and the children. With her there was no middle ground; it was all or none.Pearl was a long time member of Saint Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church, Raleigh, NC. Her pastor reports that "Pearl was not simply a member, she was a worker." She was actively in­volved in various ministries including the Sunday School, the Usher Board, the HIV/AIDS Awareness Ministry, and has assisted the YPD and Missionary Society in the feeding of the A.M.E. Homeless Shelter. Her commitment to the church was evidenced by the many visits and acts of love by the ministerial staff and church family during her lengthy illness. Pearl was a supportive grandparent at her granddaughter's after school program, Loaves and Fishes, for many years.In addition to Jennetta, James and Andrea, Pearl leaves to cherish her memories, a brother John McDonald (Michele); two aunts, Millie Alston and Sue Davis; one uncle, Charles Davis; nephew and niece, John R. McDonald and Johari Toe; a host of cousins, other family members and friends.
A Description of Pearl

P... Precious woman, God's gift to us
E ..   .Everlasting and always in our memories
 A .  Angel that looks over us day and night
 R ...    Rescued because she was a rescuer for others
 L..     Loving person that freely shared her love

 Submitted by her children, James and Jennetta and granddaughter, Andrea