Reverend Doctor James W. Abrams, Jr.

Reverend James W. Abrams, Jr., has served as pastor of the Saint James Baptist Church for 34 years. He was also a Clinical Chaplain with the South Carolina Department of Corrections at Walden Correctional Institution for 24 years. He has been a member of the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) as well as a Diplomate Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education for 15 years.

Born on September 29, 1949, in Richland County, South Carolina, he is the son of the late Deacon James W. Abrams, Sr. and Mrs. Beulah R. Abrams. He was born the fourth of five children, three sisters: Faye Ann (Abrams) Holland, Beverly Jane (Abrams) Hart, the late Vivian Abrams and one brother, Willie James Abrams, Sr.

Reverend Abrams was educated in the public schools of Richland County School District One. He is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Columbia, South Carolina. He received an Associate Degree from the University of South Carolina in Commercial Science, and a Bachelor of General Studies Degree with emphasis in Real Estate and Finance. In 1990, Reverend Abrams received his Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2008, he received his Doctorate of Ministry degree from Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Reverend Abrams is married to the former Marilyn Hudgens also of Columbia. They have two children James W. Abrams, III (Rashanda) and Shayla Melissa Abrams and three grandchildren: Tylen Hill, James (Jay) W. Abrams, IV and Holland Abrams.