Mr. Melvin Douglas Abram was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 20, 1942 to Mr. Orlander and Lula Rose (Woods) Abram. He is preceded in death by both of his parents.

Melvin grew up in Madisonville, Kentucky. He was raised by his mother, maternal grandparents George and Corona Woods and aunt Laura Mae Woods-Cross alongside his cousins Samuel Eugene Clark, Phyllis McBride, Tyrone Woods, Christopher Woods, and George Woods Jr.

Melvin attended and graduated from the Madisonville, Kentucky school district. Melvin was a member of the Eastview Baptist Church. At 18 years old, Melvin relocated to St. Louis, Missouri to live with his father. He later enlisted in the United States Air Force on July 30, 1960.

During his career in the United States Air Force, he was stationed at Fort Myers Military Base in Arlington, Virginia where he worked at The Pentagon in the communication division. He received an Honorable Discharge on May 14, 1963.

In the late 60's, he became a follower of The Nation of Islam under the leadership of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Upon returning to St. Louis, Missouri, where we worked as a grant writer for the Economic Opportunity Center. He later worked for Bi-State Bus company as a bus driver. Melvin was a complicated man with a brilliant mind. He enjoyed reading and writing poetry and was a bible scholar.

in 1973, he met and married Regina Phillips to this union one child was born Zakiyyah Nimat. He later met Dena Lewis and to this union one child was born Dawn Michelle.

He is survived by his two daughters: Zakiyyah (Leo Jr.) Stewart and Dawn (Donny) Jackson; one granddaughter: Zahria Carpenter; four grandsons Zachary Carpenter, Kevin Bronner, Airman Leo Stewart III and Dionta Stewart; one great-grandson Zachary Carpenter Jr.; one sister Marva Jean Abram-Crutcher; one niece Kameron Crutcher; two great-nieces Kai and Kari Crutcher; two special cousins: Phyllis (Jimmy) Clark and Regina McBride; and a host of other family members.