Our Mom Pamela "Momma G" Lipscomb

Our mother, Friend, Loved One Pamela “Momma G” Lipscomb has made her heavenly departure from us. Many were aware of her most recent battle with lung cancer. Unfortunately, her condition worsened. The severity of her condition and vigor of the treatment for it led to a sudden and untimely departure from us on October 15th, 2023.

This last battle was both her 4th and 5th time battling cancer in her lifetime. Our girl fought until the very end in the company of her closest friends and family members. She lived a long life filled with art, theater, business, performance, education, community, motherhood, and love. Some knew her as an associate or colleague but she was a mentoring mother figure for a large group of students and professionals.

Our Mom began working for the DC Public School System in the late 80s and worked for 8 years as an librarian at Richardson Elementary School. In the 90s, She received a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of the District of Columbia, where she graduated summa cum laude. She went on to become the Assistant Director of Marketing and Publications at the College Board where she contributed to the creation of the model for one of our area’s first Public Charter schools. During this time, mom began collaborating with her family and fellow members of New Home Baptist Church’s community to successfully open “Gospel Live” her dream gospel entertainment restaurant that offered soul food and live performances for Christian churchgoers.

She returned to the DC Public School system in the Early 2000s to continue her career as a library media specialist and educator at her alma mater Woodrow Wilson Senior High School with the intention to create a library environment that not only promoted literacy on all levels but also provided students a safe space to learn and grow in. During her tenure at Wilson, Pamela was diagnosed with cancer for the third time and never took a day off considering that there were students, associations, and programs that relied on her to be there. This is where Pamela became known as “Momma G” by a countless number of students that she loved and mentored as if they were her own.

She not only provided her students with the safe space she originally promised but also aided so many in the process of expanding their knowledge base by providing them with an abundance of resources catered to their specific needs and celebrating them for their victories along the way. Her educational practices earned her a Standing Ovation Rubenstein Award for Outstanding DC Public School Staff, a Spirit of The Slam Award from Spilt This Rock in 2015, the 2018 Vincent E. Reed Award for Excellence in Teaching, and several championships from the after-school programs that she sponsored. Additionally, Pamela had a featured article published in the Official Journal of the Pacific Northwest Library Association titled “Dimensions of the Myers-Briggs Temperament Inventory and Implications for the School Library Media Specialist” which helps educators in identifying and finding methods that best suit specific types of students. In 2021 she became the Library Media Specialist for Roosevelt S.T.A.Y Academy where she carried out her community stewardship and educational excellence until her final days.

Our family was aware of her declining health but there was no way for us to prepare to lose her so suddenly. My sister and I are doing our best to settle her affairs and put together enough funds to cover the costs of a service that an outstanding person like her deserves. However, there is more to handle than we ever anticipated.

Any contribution is truly appreciated. We are endlessly grateful for your help at this time.

Love Always,

Asha G.