Abraham Moore

Abraham ‘Abe’ Moore was born on March 12, 1936, in Savannahland, Char- lotteville, Tobago, West Indies. Son of William Barnabas Moore and Eugenie Moore, he was the fifth son in a family of eight sons and two daughters. He started his schooling at Charlotteville Methodist School where he was a stellar pupil. From an early age, he gardened beside his father and brothers on the family land, thus developing a lifelong love for gardening. Additionally, he worked at multiple trades, including carpentry with a senior cousin (J. D. Elder); building with Uncle Sonny (Phillip); and trucking with an older brother (Darwin). Abe was unique in his family: he proudly claimed that he was the only genuine Trini- Tobagonian among them; for he was conceived in Trinidad and born in Tobago! Though each son had a turn at the family cooking, Abe had the longest stint. He excelled in his culi- nary skills, developing into a master cook, bread maker, and cake maker. Abe would often remind his siblings that he was the middle son. Indeed, we, both the older and the younger siblings, looked up to him, as the family pinnacle. He was our touchstone, our wise, fun- loving, humorous, encouraging, challenging, stern and kind brother. Entering as a mature, industrial student, Abe attended secondary school at Caribbean Train- ing College (now University of Southern Caribbean), while working at the school’s broom shop, print shop, and farm. He distinguished himself as the first student at the College to earn a degree labeled as “pre-professional.” Later he would complete a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Walla Walla College (now Walla Walla University) in Washing- ton state and a master’s degree in Economics at The American University in Washington, DC. Abe’s professional career started as a teacher and dean of men at Caribbean Union College (CUC; formerly CTC), and he would later serve as Business Manager there. When he and his family migrated to the United States he worked briefly in Washington, DC, at Howard Uni- versity, then went on to Alabama where he held the position of Comptroller at Alabama State University. In 1981 he was appointed to the position of Vice-President of Finance at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, which he held for 28 years. Together, Dr. Earl Richardson (President) and Abe developed a series of capital improvements that transformed and expanded the iconic university campus into what we know now. Abe was born into a Seventh-day Adventist family, and throughout his life he maintained a very active connection with his church. For many years he served as the First Elder of the lo- cal church, and he had a keen interest in the function and development of the church in his island home of Tobago. As a born-again Christian, he was steadfast in his faith and belief in God to the end. Abe met the love of his life Delris “Del” Henry at school and flew to British Guiana (now Guyana) to marry her in 1965. Their three beautiful children, Amanda Lynn, Carmen Lucille, and Lennox (deceased), were soon born in the United States. Abe was a loving husband and father. He taught his children to love music, especially the hymns. He taught them his beloved pastimes of baking and gardening. He was a hands-on father, the kind of father who stayed up late at night, the kind who played fun-loving tricks like a little kid at times, the kind who was always able to find time no matter how busy he found himself. One of the children’s favorite memories was Sabbath afternoon family picnics, which they enjoyed throughout their lives, even into adulthood. And, perhaps be- cause of his childhood experience with gardening, Abe was an avid gardener everywhere he lived. When he lived in Randallstown, Maryland, the deer consistently plundered his early gardening at- tempts, and he, along with Del, took to container gardening on the deck, producing envious sup- plies of household vegetables, herbs and flowers. Abe saw the possible where others saw the insurmountable. He tackled a problem with drive and an energy which was difficult to stem. He fought tirelessly for the cause for which he was passionate. He was generous to a fault: generous with his means, advice and expertise, be it to an individual, church, educational institution, at home or abroad. He encouraged, coached, motivated, cajoled; urging each individual in his life to seek excellence. Abe was a peacemaker to his last days, mending rifts and bringing people together. Relatives, students, staff, coworkers, and church members all attest to this. After a long fight with Parkinson’s disease, Abe passed away peacefully at home on June 9, 2024. Abraham is survived by Delris, his faithful wife of nearly sixty years; daughters Amanda (David) Lang and Carmen Moore, and granddaughter Abigail Moore; siblings Samuel, patriarch of the Moore clan, Nathaniel (Elma) Moore, Carlyle (Wynoma) Moore, Linda Moore, Addison (Miriam) Moore, and Nelda Moore-Nana; sister-in-law Mary Moore; and brothers-in-law Lennox (Grace) Hen- ry and Wilton (Carol) Henry. His brothers Darwin, Nathan, and Eugene preceded him in death. He dearly loved and supported each of his nieces and nephews and their families (Hilton, JoAnne, Joey, Sheldon, Rowena, Christina, Serena, Anne, Ricardo, Delia, Wendell, Wendy, Adrian, Andy, Derrick, Jinel, William and Wendell), as well as his many grand nieces and nephews. He will be missed by the extended Moore clan of Charlotteville, Tobago (The Alleynes, Carringtons/Walcotts, James, McDonalds, Moores, and Williams); his Morgan State University family; USC alumni friends; Pikesville SDA Church family; the Carrs; Jennifer James and Shemika Satchell, his loving nurses; and many others, too numerous to list. In our mind’s eye, we see his mischievous smile, hear his merry laughter, and smell his homemade bread; and we give thanks to God for a life well lived. We look forward to meeting him again on the great resurrection day. Shalom!

Tributes

Abraham Moore

March 12, 1936 - June 9, 2024