John "Dagwood" Abrams

Tarboro

John N. “Dagwood” Abrams 89, died Friday in the Vidant Hospice Hospital in Greenville.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held Monday at 6:30 PM at Carlisle Funeral Home with the Rev. Bobby Harrell officiating.

“Dagwood” Abrams was born as John Norwood Abrams on December 25, 1929 in Edgecombe County. He was given the only name that most people know him by from a teenage friend. He had many accomplishments in his life. He was a star football player for the Tarboro Tigers and earned a scholarship to Duke University for football. A few years later he went on to serve in the US Army during the Korean War. Upon returning to Tarboro after the war he began working for Tarboro Concrete, where he made many a friend and learned the trade. Dagwood soon was known as being one of the best carpenters in town and to many he was a master carpenter. There are many places in town that he used his hands to help build, maintain and make “absolutely beautiful” as he would say. Odds are you have seen his work and didn’t know that the man in the white T-shirt and blue jeans was the artist. Dagwood also loved the game of pool and spent many weekends playing.  Always ready for a game of pool he would keep his cue stick in his truck. He loved the game as much as he loved the people he met while playing. His greatest accomplishment was his family.

Dagwood was survived by: Wife of 54 years Frances Harrell Abrams; Daughters; Cissy Edwards and husband Bruce, Julie Compata and husband Chris; Sons; John Abrams and wife Dee, Ed Capps and wife Alexandra; grandchildren Joshua, Little John, Bryan, Corey, Maggie, Riley, Emma, Avery, Corbin, Noah and Gabe. 

He had a special love for all animals and his dog Fibber was often by his side. Dagwood never knew a stranger and lived by the word of “But for the grace of God go I” There was no one that he felt did not deserve kindness, a smile, a handshake or even a big hug.  He left this world knowing that he had many special friends, too many to list and that he was loved.

The family will receive friends after the service.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John "Dagwood" Abrams, please visit our floral store.