Pamela “Pam” Conklin

Pamela “Pam” Faye Conklin of Colonial Heights, VA died Sunday August 16th, 2020. Pam wrote her obituary as follows: “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2. I have loved well and been well loved in this earthly world. Grieve, but rejoice in my passing to a better place. I praise God for my journey and all that resulted from it. I only regret that I have not been able to say goodbye to everyone that has touched my life in so many ways. Those close to me during my journey know that I looked for silver linings in every storm cloud. Thank you all for being my support network that inspired me to do that and I thank Almighty God for giving me those blessings of inspiration and positivity as he walked along side of me on my journey and carried me when I was weak in body and spirit. I was born in Suffolk VA and raised in Gates County, NC. I was a dedicated civil servant, a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Colonial Heights and a proud Carolina Tarheel. After graduating from the University of North Carolina, I began my professional career with the Internal Revenue Service in Falls Church VA where I met Bob. I spent the remainder of my 38 year career working for the Department of Defense - the US Army in Heidelberg GE, the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) in Virginia Beach, VA and DeCA and the Defense Contract Management Agency in Fort Lee, VA. I joined the ranks of the Senior Executive Service in 2010 and retired in 2020. I am survived by my loving husband Robert “Bob” Conklin of 35 years. I am so blessed by my sons Brandon P. Conklin (Michele), and Langdon M. Conklin and niece and nephews that Bob and I were guardians of, Nathan P. Byrd, David “Tyler” Byrd and Catherine “Lanie” Byrd. I also leave behind my mother Catherine “Eloise” Byrd, and my sister, Robin Huffman (David). I was preceded in death by my father, J. Pressley Byrd Jr., and my brother, David A. Byrd. But I was especially loved and blessed by my “family” of friends around the world who have been through it all with me - Deborah and Paul Loftus, Janet and Randy Haase, Paul and Fran Randazzo, Leslie and Keith Roberts, Cecelia and Leonard Lewis, Larry and Judy Davis, Chuck and Sue Aters, Sean and Cindy Haynie, Diana and Richard Jackson, Andrea and Jo Podles, Lonnie and Cathy Broussard, Steven and Cathy Smith, Thomas (and Rita, deceased) Keifer, Thomas and Kevin Laabs, and countless others. I am thankful for my work family at DCMA that have been steadfast during my journey. All of you have been my prayer warriors and I am so grateful for that. I chose never to use the words ‘fight’ or ‘battle’ in my journey with Triple Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer. Bob’s and my outlook were do what needs to be done or “Get ‘Er Done” as many will recognize from the name of my Facebook group. I can’t express just how uplifted I was by your prayers, love and support during my 3-year journey. I pray that you find ways to pass that on to others living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). I ask that you remember me, in lieu of flowers, by donating to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation at www.tnbcfoundation.org to help find a cure. A funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 21, 2020 at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church 3110 Greenwood Avenue Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834. Interment will be Private. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions seating is limited at the church the family will notify the public and friends who can attend the funeral.  The family will receive friends Thursday, August 20, 2020 from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at the church.  Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory 2033 Boulevard Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com