Pamela Andrews Molinatto

Pamela A. Williams Molinatto, 68, died Sept. 21 at Duke Regional Hospital Intensive Care Unit. 

Pam was born Aug 21, 1953, in the Portsmouth, Va., Naval Hospital. She grew up in Durham and graduated from Durham High School. Soon after, she went to work for what was then called Burroughs Welcome, the pharmaceutical company.  A former manager, Scott Smith, called Pam “well established as an icon in the department, and I found her to be a welcomed force of nature” when he became manager. 

Her deep knowledge and experience in the department led him to often lean “on her to train new hires. If they couldn’t learn from Pam, they weren’t ever going to learn it.” Smith added, “Pam was innovative without realizing it and ahead of her time but always humble in her contributions to the business.” 

Pam worked for the company through several ownerships and left the company in early retirement when it was named Glaxo Smith Kline. 

Pam’s hobbies and passions were varied. Foremost is her love of God.  I say IS, because her body died, not her spirit.  She is in God’s presence, and I am sure that she has uncontainable joy and happiness. Her service to Him always came first. 

She was a prayer warrior, which truly was one of her many gifts. Her husband, Jon, was the recipient of many of her “direct line to God” prayers.  She loved sitting on the front porch while communing with God and reading her Bible. 

At Christian Assembly, her church, she worked at the food pantry, in the children’s ministry, on the prayer chain and in other ministries. She helped in staging the church’s “Drive Through Christmas” presentation. 

Other interests were family; the family dog, named Saint; art; nature; and birds, birds, birds.  Her “She Shed” was filled with bird food for many species, including songbirds, orioles, and blue birds. It also stocked a couple hundred pounds of deer corn in sealed bins, resupplied monthly on trips to Roxboro to Tractor Supply Co. 

She had quite a collection of pottery, purchased during annual trips to the Sanford pottery festival.  She had a sampling of them on the top of the kitchen cabinets and throughout the house. She also bought several paintings and watercolors, now displayed throughout the house.  Her and Jon’s trips to the North Carolina mountains always included a stop at Black Mountain to visit one of her favorite shops. 

Pam always strove to complete things to perfection, including her home renovation.  She planned and redesigned the renovation, working on it with Jon for years. The couple completed most of the work themselves. Painting and caulking were never completed until it met Pam’s standards.  Jon states that they worked great together -- as long as he stayed in his lane.  Trying to help move things along, he once did some caulking around the shower.  It was not up to her standards.  It was removed and redone.  Lesson learned.  They completed 95 percent of the renovation. 

Pam is survived by Jon, of the home; her sisters since Pam was 2 years old, Ann (Allen) Kennison of Durham and Gail (Steve) Dula of High Point; a spiritual daughter, Jennifer Canada; her stepsons, Jonathan (Cheryl) Molinatto and sons of Chapel Hill, and David Molinatto (Teodora Zoeva) of Nashville, Tenn.; her birth mother, Dora Long of Virginia; a sister, Denise (Allen) Canada of Virginia; two half-brothers, Kenny (Debbie) Long and Doug (Christina) Long, both of Virginia; a sister-in-law, Deborah Molinatto Claxton (Mike) of Calabash, N.C.; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents since Pam was 2 years old, Floyd Lee and Aphia “Amy” Young; her beloved stepson, Ryan Molinatto; her birth father, Shell Williams; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Virginia and Jonathan Molinatto; and a sister, Jeannie Bell.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hall Wynne Funeral Service, 1113 W. Main St., Durham, NC. A Celebration of Life and Home-going will be held on Thursday, Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. at Christian Assembly Church, 5516 N. Roxboro Rd., Durham, NC conducted by the Rev. Brett Spiers. Church doors will open at 10:30 a.m. There will be an opportunity for family and friends to say a few words about Pam during the service. If you desire to do so, please send an e-mail to Pastor Spiers at cach@cadurham.org for his planning purposes.

Refreshments will be served following the service at the church.

Pam loved flowers but is now experiencing the beauties of Heaven. She was a faithful tither to the mission efforts of Christian Assembly Church and an ardent supporter of the Durham Rescue Mission. Support for those in need can change a life forever. Please consider donating in Pam’s name to support one or both of these Christ-centered missions.

The Molinatto family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.