Pam Cockrell

Pam Cockrell, December 28, 1951 - August 17, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we share our dear, beloved, matriarch, Pam Cockrell, passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2024. After putting up an incredible battle against B-Cell Lymphoma, she chose everlasting peace, surrounded by her cherished family.

On December 28th, 1951, Leo and Betty London welcomed Pam into the world in Chicago, at Weiss Memorial Hospital. Little did they know what was in store. As a young child, Pam was a relationship builder. She loved making friends with kids from all backgrounds and found great joy in shopping for everyone around her. Whether Brut cologne or Cabbage Patch Kids, Pam could be found in line for the best deal, coupons in hand. Weekend trips to Randhurst, Golf Mill, and art fairs were part of her routine. And yes, this Jewish woman adored all things Christmas. From Jewish star toppers to Black angel ornaments on her multiple Christmas trees. Her Easter baskets were epic as her children and grandchildren will attest. Being festive and giving gifts was Pam's love language.

Pam went on to attend Evanston Township High School where she met some of her best friends - Mopsy, Ollie, Jap, Flash, Birdie and Denise just to name a few. She then met the love of her life, Sonny, at Southern Illinois University. From a trailer in Carbondale, to a two-flat with her parents and teenage twin sisters (Penny and Paula), Pam moved in to raise her first baby girl, Corrie, alongside her beloved Sonny. Shortly thereafter, Josh and Kourtney arrived.

Pam wanted nothing more than to raise a family and be a mom. The moment she got pregnant with Corrie, her life changed forever. She committed to ensuring her children had access to education and became a figure to look out for at school board meetings. Pam and Sonny were known for advocating for racial equity and social justice, and this was long before "woke" - Pam and Sonny are the OGs of DEI. Whether challenging the tracking system that reinforced institutional racism in the classroom or petitioning for more cultural diversity in the fine arts department (ahem...thank you Pam for getting The Wiz into production circa 1989), Pam and Sonny became a fixture in the Evanston community and a model for organizing and education reform.

Pam sacrificed her college completion to be an amazing mother and provider for her family. She inspired all of her children to pursue higher education, and interestingly, all of Pam's children and her grandson, Jordan, went on to graduate from the University of Michigan. Ann Arbor was a second home to Pam and her family, and watching her only son Josh play football in the Big House was a dream come true.

Pam's professional career began with volunteering at Headstart as a teenager. This fulfilled her passion for children, and eventually she joined McDougal Littel, a textbook publishing company, for about a decade. Pam also spent time in medical billing, which helped her navigate our cryptic and bureaucratic healthcare system that would serve as a resource to everyone in Pam's community. If you had an ailment or a question about a deductible, Pam was your first call. She was connected to doctors (of any specialization you could imagine) and knew how to negotiate when insurance companies would inevitably send you a bill that was riddled with misinformation.

On any given Sunday, you could find Pam cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers and arguing with Josh about their fantasy football picks from her bed. And during the week, if you called Pam, you'd almost certainly be met with "Let me call you back - I'm on hold with Walgreens." Pam was the queen bee of wrangling in customer service calls and getting points, credits, errors, you name it - resolved by the end of day.

Pam's heart and spirit was filled with love, generosity, empathy, and a very clear and direct moral compass. If you were in need, were feeling down, wanted to vent, or just could benefit from a pick-me-up, Pam was there. She showed her love in so many ways - from Christmas cookies, to holiday cards (that consistently arrived at some point by February or March), to daily obscure "good morning" memes. You felt seen, supported and safe in Pam's presence.

Pam was clear, consistent and always spoke her mind. She did this until the very end after fighting non-stop and suffering excruciating back pain for months. On August 17th at 12:44 a.m., Pam took her final breath with her baby girl Kourtney by her side. She is survived by her husband (Sonny), children (Corrie, Josh (Lisa) and Kourtney), siblings (Bruce, Penny, and Paula), and her only precious grandchildren (André, Jordan, and Liana) and all of her beloved nieces and nephews. We invite all the people who love Pam to join us in holding close to your heart the abundant memories and ways Mama Jack made you feel.

Service Friday 9AM Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd., (at Niles Center Road) Skokie. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104 www.splcenter.org. To attend the funeral livestream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com