Pamela Lene Washington was born on September 4, 1958, in San Francisco, California as the oldest of two children born to the late Earsie Lene (Bowie) and James Johnson. She was a quiet person growing up, hanging out with a few close friends. She was educated in the San Francisco School District until the 10th grade, and after a family move to San Mateo in 1974, Pam graduated from San Mateo High School in 1976. Pam attended San Jose State University where she studied Business Administration. There, she met Howard King, and the couple wed in 1979. The newlyweds settled in San Mateo where Pam worked at Mills Hospital. After their union ended, Pam and Calvin Dwayne Taylor (Big Dwayne) had three children: Tatiana and Teoma Taylor (fraternal twins), and Calvin Dewayne Taylor. Pam moved back to San Francisco, and in 1983 she began a 30+ year career as an Executive Assistant with Hewlett Packard (HP), formerly Electronic Data Systems.
Pam accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in 1985 while attending New Providence Baptist Church in San Francisco, CA. Pam sang in the Angelic Choir and served as the Church Secretary. In 1984, Pam met Benjamin Ray Washington. Both were family-oriented individuals who shared a love of sports and cooking. They married on December 17, 1988, and had two children, Raylia and Lenee Washington. In 1999, Pam and Ben moved to Sacramento, CA, and she kept her work tenure with HP. She loved the new city. Within a few years after the move, Pam said, “I’m never moving back to the Bay Area.” In Sacramento, Pam attended New Testament Baptist Church. She retired from HP in 2015. In 2016, Pam began working with the State of California Department of Public Health as a Program Manager until she retired in August 2021.
Pam had a range of hobbies and creative talents including baking, cooking, and hosting family dinners. The family enjoyed her peach cobbler, carrot cake, sweet potato pies, cornbread dressing, macaroni & cheese, spaghetti, and more. She also loved crafting which included designing, making, and sending personalized greeting cards. Pam also had a green thumb, and she loved caring for her many plants throughout her home and yard. She had a great fondness for music and dancing, and as she got older, that did not change! While “Never Gonna Let You Go,” by Hezekiah Walker was her favorite gospel song, she also loved old-school Parliament funk, the soulful, jazz style of Brian Culberson, and the dance beats of Bruno Mars, and had many other gospel favorites. Together, Pam and Ben enjoyed taking day trips, attending live concerts, and watching college and professional basketball games. Her favorite holiday was Labor Day when she and the family could attend the Reno Rib Festival. Most of all, she loved being with her children and grandkids, who fondly called her “Nana”.
Pam is preceded in death by her parents, Earsie and James Johnson; and her husband Benjamin Washington. In the past year, she demonstrated considerable strength given the loss of her husband and life partner of 38 years. Pam leaves to cherish treasured memories five children, Tatiana Taylor, Teoma Loeb (Will), Calvin Taylor (Amelia), Raylia Turner (Teddie), and Lenee Washington; six grandchildren, Amelia Taylor, Calvin Taylor, Jr. (CJ), MyLia Washington, Malachi Washington, Kahari Turner, and Tamari Turner; two sisters, Lori Johnson and Elaine Johnson; two aunts, Faye Johnson and Girtha Bouie; and a host of cousins, friends, and co-workers.
Pam was a kind, loving person who loved her family and would stop what she was doing to help them out at any time. She was jubilant, adventurous, humble, and resourceful—generously extending her time and talents where they were needed. Pam will be extremely missed by all whose lives she touched.
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