Abram Wheeler (Lansing)

Mr. Abram Lawrence Wheeler passed away in Lansing, Michigan at 74 years young on Saturday, October 14, 2023. He was the third child born on Monday, April 10, 1949, to Abraham Wheeler and Nannie Bell Weaver Wheeler in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Having a big sister and big brother, his sense of humor was recognized early. He would even play a lidded bucked as his make-believe guitar when we played church at home. Lawrence was always playful and quite ticklish, often laughing just with the motion of being tickled.

He attended the West Gum Springs Church of God in Christ as a child and would later also attend his dad’s two churches in Piney Ridge and Mountain Pine, Arkansas. His early musical gifts and interests evolved into genuine musical talent. He played first trombone in the high school band and played trombone in an extracurricular combo providing music at many events and parties. He also became an accomplished electric guitar player, playing regularly in church services and at community events. He attended his first six years of school at the Gum Springs rural two-room school, and then attended and graduated from Peake High School in 1967. After graduating high school, he attended Ouachita Baptist University for two years. He then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked for the Fisher Body Division of General Motors Corporation, from which he retired after ~ 30 years. After moving to St Louis, he took additional classes at University of Missouri – St Louis and Southern Illinois University, though a degree remained elusive. He later moved to Lansing, Michigan, in 1997. This move allowed Lawrence and his brother-in-law, Ernie, who played the saxophone, to reconnect during music jam sessions. Lawrence’s great sense of humor and lightheartedness brought laughter to many lives!

Abram was preceded in death by his parents, Abraham and Nannie Bell Wheeler; brothers, Henry Davis Wheeler and Elgin Lee Wheeler; brother-in-law, Ernest Hudson.

He leaves to cherish his memory, sister, Nannie V. Hudson of Lansing, Michigan; brother, Dr. Calvin Blake (Sarajane) Wheeler of San Ramon, California; nieces, B. Renee Hudson of Lansing, Michigan, Sonya (Timothy) Dawkins of Lansing, Michigan, Rhonda (Orlando) Blackburn of Dallas, Texas, Tiffany Childress of Atlanta, Georgia; nephews, Glenn Wheeler (Shannon) of St. Louis, Missouri, Justin Hudson (Tunisha) of Belleville, Michigan, Elgin Childress (Felisha) of Atlanta, Georgia; and a host of great nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Rest in peace Abram Lawrence Wheeler…