Though our hearts are heavy, we celebrate the incredible life of Pamela Rivera, who passed away on June 17, 2025, at the age of 64. A mother to two, a grandmother to six, an aunt to dozens and a friend to everyone she met, Pamela's dedication and fierce love for her family and friends will be cherished and forever missed.

A proud winter baby, Pamela was born December 20, 1960, in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late Edwin and Maureen Kennedy. Pamela graduated from Erasmus Hall High School at the young age of 16 and continued her education at Hunter College and Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. Despite moving from Brooklyn to Atlanta, and eventually to Virginia to be near her daughter and grandchildren, she always carried the spirit of a Brooklyn girl in her heart.

Pamela enjoyed many hobbies and was a lifelong lover of music. From a young age, Pamela could be found with headphones on or attending local concerts, enjoying everything from Jazz to Country. Whether it was the smooth sounds of Dizzy Gillespie or the energetic beats of Gloria Estefan, music was more than just background noise, it was a language that spoke to her. In her later years, Pamela found peace in the soft melodies of Stevie Wonder while sipping tea by the window or dancing to old favorites in the living room. Her love for music remained constant, a source of comfort and connection, even in the most challenging of times.

Pamela's greatest pride was her family. She loved her children with a ferocity that was as big as her personality, always standing up for them, and often giving them a piece of her mind (whether it was wanted or not). Pamela instilled in them the values of hard work, resilience, and compassion. As a grandmother to six, her influence stretched across the years. She believed in family, in gathering and the importance of showing up for one another.

While we mourn her loss, we are comforted by the knowledge that her legacy lives on in the family she built and nurtured with her boundless love.

Pamela is survived by her devoted daughter, Tiffany Ramos-Baugh (Thomas); son, Emmanuel Rivera; brother, Edwin Kennedy (Yvonne); sister, Jenny Santiago (Vincent); grandchildren, Jayden Gee, Thomas Baugh, Jr., Tyre Baugh, Tiyana Baugh, Alexander Ramos-Gee and Tamaya Baugh; cousins, Richard Butts, Cynthia Butts, Reginald Mayfield and Ronda Mayfield; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Nango,  Pricilla Smith and Ruth Pacheco; and a host of nieces, nephews and close family friends.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 P.M., Saturday, July 5, 2025, in the Chapel of J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, the Rev. Herbert Holly II, eulogist.

J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, watch the funeral services live online at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.