In Memoriam: Voletta Wallace, Notorious B.I.G. mother

Voletta Wallace, the beloved mother of the late great rapper Christopher Wallace known as the Notorious B.I.G., has died.

She was 78. Previous reports said she was 72.

Passing details

The Monroe County Coroner’s office confirmed Wallace passed away under hospice care from natural causes in her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania on Friday morning, Feb. 21.

Her family released a statement on social media confirming her passing:

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Voletta Wallace was a dedicated mother

Born in Jamaica, Voletta was a single mother who raised Christopher in Brooklyn after his father left in 1974.

The preschool teacher was a stalwart supporter of her son, who became one of the biggest rappers to date known as the Notorious B.I.G.

Gunmen murdered B.I.G. on March 9, 1997, in Los Angeles after he left a Soul Train Awards after‑party. They fatally wounded him in a drive‑by shooting as he sat in a green Chevy Suburban parked on Wilshire Boulevard.

Investigators have not charged anyone with B.I.G.’s killing, and the case remains unsolved.

Honoring her son’s legacy

After B.I.G.’s untimely death, Wallace became a dedicated mother, adamant to keep her son’s legacy alive. She managed his estate which amassed to an estimated $160 million.

Wallace continued to celebrate her son’s success throughout her life, even being a producer on the 2009 film about B.I.G., titled “Notorious.” Angela Bassett portrayed her character, and in 2020 she represented him during his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Today, I’m feeling great,” she told Billboard at the time. “As a mother, I’m extremely proud of his accomplishments. You know, I still see such a young man at a young age, and sadly, he’s not here to witness all this. But it’s an astute honor, and as a mother, I’m just elated for that.”

Christopher was her only son. He had two children, T’yanna and C.J. Wallace. Besides her grandchildren, she leaves behind a host of relatives, extended family, and friends that will cherish her memory.