Former State Senator, The Reverend Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, III of Atlanta, passed away on Thursday, March 17, 2016.

The Celebration of Life for the Honorable Reverend Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, III, son of civil rights icon the late Reverend Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., will be held on Friday, March 25, 2016 at 12:00Noon at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church, 534 Fairburn Road, Northwest, Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Gregory Sutton, Senior Pastor with Dr. Lawrence E. Carter, officiating and Reverend Anthony Motley, eulogist. 

The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 24, 2016 from 6:00PM-8:00PM at West Hunter Street Baptist Church, 1040 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Southwest, Atlanta, Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his father, Reverend Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. and his brother, Ralph David Abernathy, Jr. Survivors are his wife, Annette Abernathy; children, Ralph, IV, Christiana and Michah; mother, Juanita Jones Abernathy; siblings Juandalynn R. Abernathy (Sven-Torben Haderup), Donzaleigh Abernathy (Dar Dixon Bijarchi), Kwame Luthuli Abernathy; nephew, Sören-Niklas Haderup, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

His motto in life was given to him by his celebrated father:

 “If the Elevator to Success Is Broken, Take the Stairs.”

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