By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO
Pamela Renee Leak, known on stage as comedian Ms. Maybelle, as a philanthropist and a community activist, died February 29, bringing tears to many in Baltimore and beyond.
Leak, known as a philanthropist and community activist, died the evening February 29, bringing tears to many in the Baltimore and beyond. News of the death sent shock waves among those who are familiar and supportive of her comedy as well as her philanthropy.
Leak, or Ms. Maybelle, as she was known and liked to be called, was born Aug. 19, 1967, to Vivian Thornton and Larry Leak. Both her parents preceded her in death.
Ms. Maybelle suffered a massive heart attack and an aneurysm, leading to her death.
“It was unbelievable,” said her Aunt Sheila Smith, “and totally unexpected.”
Smith and most of Ms. Maybelle’s immediate family, including her three sons Antwon, Shawn and Nicholas, and her only sibling, Shelly Wallace, surrounded her bedside in disbelief at what they were experiencing.
“She was preparing for her Friday night comedy appearance and a calendar full of activities, which included the 20th Anniversary Big Girl Fashion Show with Travis Winkey,” said Smith. “Two years ago, she had a minor stroke, but had come back strong. She returned to radio six months ago, and was incredibly happy,” she said.
Ms. Maybelle has appeared on both the David Letterman and Steve Harvey Show. For 27 years she has entertained audiences throughout the country, but concentrated her talent in Baltimore–her beloved hometown where she was born and lived. She debuted her One woman show at Baltimore’s Arena Playhouse last May.
“She once worked in the Clerk of the Court’s Office, Frank Conaway Sr., but as long as I remember Pamela, wanted to be a comedian. She was the one that made us all laugh. She was doing exactly what she wanted to do and has been doing it for almost 30 years,” Smith.
Larry Young, former state senator and president of the National Action
Network was among her most ardent fans.
“I met her over 20 years ago. I invited her to appear on The Larry Young Morning Show back in 2007. She was such a hit,” Young recalls. “Three years later she was hosting her own show on WOLB. I named her Ms. Maybelle because she told me she was such a big fan of Moms Mabley and wanted to honor her style of comedy.”
This past September, the 2600 block of Robb street was renamed after Ms. Maybelle. “It is where I was raised by my father and have done food giveaways and donated to the school and recreation center in the area,” she told the media.
Two weeks ago, Ms. Maybelle was a recipient of one of the National Action Network Community Honor Roll Awards, hosted by AFRO Managing Editor, Alexis Taylor.
“I was the last one to give her a well-deserved honor. There were 14 of those awards given, but she was the only one who got a standing ovation,” said Young, of the audience’s reaction to Leak’s award.
Leak was well known in the community for feeding those in need and giving back however she could.
“I’ve been hungry,” Ms. Maybelle was once quoted saying, which led to her hosting her food and clothing giveaways.
Her presence in the community will surely be missed.
“She never minded sharing what she had,” said Lena Redmond, a family friend. “She was such a good mother. Whatever her family needed within her power she gave. She was especially attentive to her youngest son, Nichols,18, who faces health challenges. Her older sons, Antwan and Shawn helped her take care of him, ” said Smith.
Young agreed. “She was a great mother. “We will continue the Arena Playhouse Annual Thanksgiving food give-away in her honor. I return to WOLB radio at 4 p.m. and I will dedicate my next few shows and my Wednesday 10 a.m. podcast to Ms. Maybelle. I know people in Baltimore want to vent and share their pain, sympathy and well wishes to her family.”
Pamela Leak, is survived by aunts Sheila Smith, Bessie Gross and Joyce Culbreth; three sons, Antwan Spencer, Shawn Carter, Nicholas King; and a host of other family members and friends.
