Voletta Wallace, born on February 3, 1953, was a prominent Jamaican-American businesswoman, author, and philanthropist best known as the mother of the legendary rapper Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace.
Born in Trelawny, Jamaica, she moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., and worked as a preschool teacher while raising her son as a single mother after his father left in 1974. She passed away on February 21, 2025, at the age of 72, due to natural causes while under hospice care in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
After her son’s death in 1997, Wallace dedicated her life to celebrating his music and preserving his legacy. She oversaw his estate, growing it from an estimated $10 million to $160 million, and eventually passed down earnings to her grandchildren. Wallace produced the 2009 biopic Notorious about her son and celebrated his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. She also managed his foundation and his posthumous ventures, such as his music reaching 2.5 billion plays on Apple Music and entering the NFT space.
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VOLETTA WALLACE WIKI
| Full Name | Voletta Wallace |
| Date of birth | February 3, 1953 in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica |
| Died | February 21, 2025 in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. |
| Age | 72 (disputed) |
| Occupations | Businesswoman | Author | Philanthropist | Teacher |
| Known for | Mother of the Notorious B.I.G | Founder, Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation |
| Ethnicity | West Indian | Black American |
| Social media | Instagram | Facebook |
Early Life and Education
Voletta Wallace was born on February 3, 1953 in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica. Her father was a farmer and butcher while her mother was a stay-at-home mom. Voletta had seven siblings. In pursuit of better opportunities, she emigrated to Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1960s. According to reports, she initially came to visit a friend, and then made the decision to stay.
She lived in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, near the border with the iconic Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Voletta worked various jobs while attending nursing school. Wallace met a welder and politician, Selwyn George Latore, around this time and the two welcomed a son. Christopher Wallace was born on May 21, 1972, after which Voletta gave up on nursing and ventured into pre-school teaching.
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Parenting Approach
Latore, also an immigrant from Jamaica, left his family when Christopher was just two years old, a few weeks shy of his third birthday. Voletta faced numerous challenges working and raising her son, forcing her to work two jobs. She prioritized Christopher’s education, enrolling him at St. Peter Claver Church in Brooklyn, where he graduated from the parish elementary school in 1982. A staunch and practicing Jehovah’s Witness, Voletta raised her son in the church.
Voletta introduced her son to music, playing him Reggae, Jazz, and her personal favorite, Country Music. She also encouraged Christopher’s creative expression through writing. The legendary rapper is reported to have learned his knack for writing from his mother.
Career and Achievements
After Christopher’s rise to fame as The Notorious B.I.G and his sudden death in the 1990s, Voletta emerged as a significant figure in her own right.
Two weeks after his death, she saw to the release of Biggie’s second album, “Life After Death,” which contained several chart topping hits including Hypnotize. The Album itself debuted atop the Billboard 200.
Wallace accepted the MTV Video Music Award for best rap video (“Hypnotize”) later that year. “I know if my son was here tonight, the first thing he would’ve done is say big up to Brooklyn.” she said while picking up the honor.
Wallace was an executive producer for several documentaries about her son’s life and co-produced the biographical film Notorious (2009), where she was portrayed by Angela Bassett. Voletta also authored the memoir Biggie: Voletta Wallace Remembers Her Son (2005) and established Notorious B.I.G. Inc., managing his estate and posthumous releases.
Philanthropy
In 1997, shortly after her son’s tragic death, Voletta founded the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation. This organization focuses on providing educational scholarships, supporting youth mentorship programs, and promoting positive role models in urban communities. Her philanthropic efforts extend to partnerships with educational institutions and advocacy against gun violence.
Personal Life
Voletta Wallace’s personal life was marked by both triumphs and hardships. She faced financial difficulties while raising Christopher but remained committed to his well-being. Following the birth of her son, she gave up on dating and childbirth in order to focus all her energy on him.
After his untimely death on March 9, 1997, Voletta became an advocate for justice regarding his murder and filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles for wrongful death.
Voletta Wallace is survived by her two grandchildren, Christopher’s kids T’yanna Wallace and Christopher Jordan Wallace Jr.
Death
Voletta Wallace passed away on February 21, 2025, at the age of 78 while under hospice care in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Monroe County coroner, Thomas Yanac listed no cause of death and stated her age as 78, despite her widely reported age being 72 years.
Net Worth
Voletta Wallace had a a net worth of $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
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