Pamela Lax's Obituary
Pamela Jo Lax was born December 5, 1952 to Georgia Anna and Alfred Lax, Jr. at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City. She passed onto eternal peace April 20, 2011 after battling a number of life-threatening illnesses. She left a full legacy that included children, good food, and fun with the Redwood City and San Mateo neighborhood communities.Pam's relationship with Christianity began at St. James AME Zion Church as an infant.She was blessed as an infant and Christened at an age of reasoning. She attended St. James on a weekly basis and participated in activities like Sunday school, Easter and Christmas plays, and learned Black History in the lower section of the church. Since her grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins also regularly worshiped and served in the same church; church was considered home and became the foundation of her character and development.Pam attended Fair Oaks, Hoover, and Sequoia High School in Redwood City. Her educational experience extended to Canada College where she obtained her Associate of Arts Degree and she became a math class short of a Bachelor's Degree at San Francisco State. Pam went to the neighborhood Time for Dancing School and learned tap, ballet, baton, and acrobats. She worked at Probe Community Center and participated in the Summer Youth Programs where she learned African dancing. She later became a featured dancer for the Nairobi Cultural Center that presented shows all around the Bay Area.As one of three children born, Pam was second, Patsy, the oldest and Alfred, the youngest. Married to Frank Andino in February 1976, after much desire and many years waiting, she became a mother of four children including Armand and triplets Marcus, Christopher, and Brandi. Ultimately, she became mother-in-law to Erika and the grandmother of Christopher, Makayla, Isabella, and Alfred.The children in San Mateo grew to love and cherish Pam known to them as "Teacher Pam." Employed by the Turnbull Children's Center, Pam built a rich and strong relationship with children she met and interacted with. Pam had a childlike way in her personality that attracted the young at heart. As a result, children chose her as a special person they wanted in their play and fun space. Giggles and tickles were common exchanges that moved from the school to her home. On weekends, the home she shared with her Grandmother, "Mom," had lots of happy children fulfilled with barbeque, home made rolls, tea cakes, and fried chicken and moments to last for a lifetime. As a result, she became a mother to many.Since great Southern cooking was so prevalent in Pam's home, she learned to enjoy cooking. She barbequed frequently on her father's homemade pit. She loved to make peach cobbler, crab gumbo, and chitterlings. Since everyday was to be a day of total enjoyment or rest for Pam, she filled it with dreams of a kid. She would pack her children and others in her car do things like watch movies at the drive-in, hang out at Martin Luther King or Central Park, spend yearly trips in Lake Tahoe, go fast food restaurants, and take trips to Modesto to see more family. She looked forward to extended family dinners, family reunions, and zydeco dancing and eating with her friends. She danced at a yearly Cajun festival until she could dance no more but continue to stand against a pole and move to the music with a smile.Pam loved to talk about old childhood times. She brought those days alive for herself and others. Those times for her were warm days of love that included all of those she cherished. It was a time when everyone she knew practiced showing love. It was obvious she loved the days when uncles, aunts, grandmothers and fathers, cousins, and friends listened from their hearts. This experience became obvious to those who had a chance to sit and do "small talk" with her. As some of those people passed on such as her mother, "Nanie" and "Grandpa" grandmother, "Mom, " Aunt Bee, Uncle Walter, and Uncle Rudolph, Grandpa George, Walter and Edward, Pam continued to remember and miss those moments she loved and valued most. It was because of the love she learned from her childhood, that she dedicated her heart to her own children, grandchildren, father, sister, brother, and host of other family, friends and community.Pamela Jo Lax is survived by the following family members to cherish her memories: her children; Armand Jackson, Sr., Marcus Allen of Fort Lewis, Washington, Brandi Nicole and Christopher James Andino of San Mateo, daughter-in-law Erika, grandchildren: Alfred Armand, Jr., Christopher, Makayla, and Isabella, loving father, Alfred Lax, Jr. and step mother, Lillian of Tulsa, Oklahoma, sister, Patsy Lax-Lockhart of Fremont, brother Alfred III and sister-in-law, Kim of Oakland, step sister, Lauren (Ann) and step brother in-law, Lantze, estranged husband, Frank Andino, her nieces and nephews, Dana Nolley of Stockton, CA, Therese Banks of Chandler, Arizona, Mishua and Terrence Thomas, Sr. of Los Angeles, Terrence, Jr. and Malohne Thomas, Leslie, Anthony, Allen, DeShawn, Aliyah, Alecha Jasmine, (step) Kenyon, LaVandor, Kanisha, Mikalah, her beloved friend Geraldine, countless cousins, aunts and uncles, many other extended family members including Linda and Lee West and Julie, loyal community friends, and loving San Mateo neighborhood children.
What’s your fondest memory of Pamela?
What’s a lesson you learned from Pamela?
Share a story where Pamela's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Pamela you’ll never forget.
How did Pamela make you smile?