Thurman, Abe, 1922-2016

Abe Thurman (1922-2016) was an African American educator, musician, politician, and veteran of the United States Navy. A native of Newark, N.J., Thurman attended North Carolina A&T College prior to his enlistment in the United States Navy. Thurman was assigned to the United States Navy B-1 Band, the first all-African American Navy Band, during World War II. Thurman played the trumpet, flute, and piccolo in the band and was known to his fellow sailors by his nickname "Cecil." Following the war, Thurman returned to A&T and later worked in the Carteret County School system as an teacher, coach, guidance counselor, band director, and assistant principal. He became involved in politics and was the first African American commissioner of Beaufort and a former mayor pro tem of Beaufort. Thurman was also the band director of the Queen Street Marching Band.