Natalie Abrams

Natalie Randolph was born in Vernon, Alabama on July 12, 1942 to Nathaniel and Ethel Hicks Randolph. She was the second child in the family. She had three siblings:  Thurston, Kella and Joe.  Her favorite subject in school was English; she excelled in creative writing and grammar (often being called to diagram sentences on the chalkboard). She attended Phillips High School in Birmingham, Alabama. She moved to the Gulf Coast in her late teens and spent some time working at the NASA Stennis test site, where she met her future husband, James Abrams. She moved to El Paso, Texas in 1969. She attended The University of Texas at El Paso and worked for a few years recruiting performing artists for the El Paso Civic Center.
She had over the years, five children (Randy, Jill, Julie, Janelle and Jeremy) to whom she was devoted. Her eldest son, Randy, died in 1972. She survived this tragedy by the strength of her Christian faith. She was a loving and protective matriarch, not only to her children and grandchildren, but also to nieces and nephews and neighbors. She delighted in her grandchildren (Caleb, Hope, Asher, Bram, Amelia and Raini) and her great granddaughters (Emily and Ellis).
Once Natalie made a friend, she was a loyal friend for life. She kept in touch with friends from her childhood as well as friends she discovered as an adult.  She was supportive and patient and comedic, and never too shy to speak her mind. She had a generous and kind heart and was quick to help someone in need.  Natalie missed the Gulf Coast, and in 1994, moved back. She joined the Long Beach Church of Christ upon her return.  She had a sharp wit and she penned her observations, opinions and stories, both on paper and online, with quite a large audience. Despite a grave diagnosis, she fought valiantly and lived many years longer than her doctors anticipated. She died on May 5, 2018, surrounded by her children and at peace in the love of God. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and neighbors.
A visitation will be on Saturday, May 12, 2018, from 9 - 11 am at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach.  The funeral service will be at 11 am in the funeral home chapel.  Interment will be in Gulf Pines Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Long Beach Church of Christ, 200 N Cleveland Ave., Long Beach, MS 39560, or Children's Home of Lubbock, 4404 Idalou Rd., Lubbock, TX 79403.
An online guestbook may be signed and condolences offered at www.riemannfamily.com