Abernathy was born on August 13, 1913, in the Atco community of Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia.
His parents instilled a love for quartet music and the tradition of gospel singing conventions, where he learned to read shape notes.
In 1936, he wrote "Good Times Are Coming Soon," a reelection campaign song for President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Abernathy disregarded the criticism, believing that he had written the song as a result of divine inspiration.
He finished a distant third in the Democratic party primary behind William Bodenhamer and the eventual winner, Ernest Vandiver.