Pamela Hales-Walker

Pamela Hales Walker was born to Mary Jane Rose and Everett Rose in Pittsburgh, PA on September 23, 1947. She was the eldest of eight siblings.  She departed this life on July 25, 2021 at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital in Virginia Beach, VA. Her health began to fail earlier in July.

Pamela grew up in Pittsburgh and moved to New York City at a young age, where she met her first husband, Alfred Hales. That union produced four children: Monica Hales, Michelle Hales, Josie Purser (husband, Jeffrey), and Alfred Hales, Jr. The couple was happily married until Alfred’s death in 2007. 

After Alfred’s passing, Pamela relocated to Hampton, VA. She found love again in 2012, when she married Donald Walker. She lovingly welcomed Donald’s son, Jonathan Taldo (wife, Maya Almanza) as her own.  

While in New York, Pamela worked as a salesperson for Fairchild Publications and Elsevier. In the 1970s, Pamela and Alfred owned Pam’s Luncheonette on Burnside Avenue in the Bronx, which was a neighborhood mainstay. In the early 2000s, Alfred and Pamela also owned an antique shop in Harlem called The Collector’s Box.  

In Virginia, Pamela and Donald formed a nonprofit organization called “The People Who Care,” which provides toiletries, blankets and clothing to local people in need. Pamela and Donald kept bags of supplies for the needy in the trunk of their car, ready to distribute to anyone who needed them. Pamela saw this as her life’s work and she and Donald were extremely dedicated to helping others, wherever they met them.  

Pamela will also be remembered for her love for her neighbors, for all children, and for her famous stories, which were both meaningful and entertaining. 

In addition to her husband and five children, Pamela is survived by seven grandchildren: Dewane Duckett, Tiela Trumpler, Ebony Trumpler, Adrien Trumpler III, Alana Hales, Zakiyyah Capers and Zariah Taldo; a great-granddaughter, Jeniyah Trumpler-Shaw; two sisters: Charlotte “Tweet” Tarpley (husband, Larry) and Jeannie Rodrigues; and four brothers: Charles Rose (wife, Jackie), Michael Rose, Alvin “Speedy” Rose, and James “Skippy” Rose (wife, Jackie). Pamela also leaves a host of loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, godchildren and friends who she adored.  

She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Kenneth “Kenny” Rose, and her beloved cousins, Donald "Donny" Harris, Mary Frances Harris-Brown and Barbara Spruill.  

Pamela’s wishes were to be cremated. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity that supports homeless outreach.