Lamar Cary Pearson

Lamar Cary Pearson, also known to the family as Lumar, had a loving, giving, and joyous heart of gold. Born a native Washingtonian, she graduated from Dunbar High School in 1972. She started her career as a government employee working for the Department of Agriculture in 1974 where she worked for 36 years. She retired in 2010 as a Computer Analyst. She was a model employee, receiving numerous merit and performance awards annually. She received so many awards, that she had to dedicate an entire room in her house to display all her rewards and plaques. However, her real passion was serving as a Shop-Steward for The National Treasury Employees Union. Through her service as a Union Representative, she passionately represented Department of Agriculture and Treasury employees in numerous employment cases, actively fighting for employee rights and fair pay increases.

Lamar was an avid reader. She would read and digest an entire book within hours the day before her book club meeting, and know enough about it to expand on the book information as if she had written the book herself. She also had a passionate love affair with butter pecan ice cream, and anything chocolate.

Humor and fun were a main part of Lamar’s life. She was the life of any party, always making jokes and making people laugh, with her humorous personality. She often entertained those around her by being a prankster and kidder. She also loved to dance and sing. When she was younger, Lamar and her sisters would put on full performances for their parents which continued even when they were adults. Family functions were always something she looked forward to. She loved her sisters, nieces and nephews and enjoyed the times when they would all get together. Entertaining others with laughter, partaking in social events, and preparing food for family always brought her great joy.

In 1979, while shopping for shoes in downtown D.C., she wandered into a women’s shoe store where she met a then-shoe salesman that would end up being the love of her life. Lamar and Derrick Pearson dated and were later married on June 24th,1983. Lamar immediately took into her heart Derrick’s first daughter Shakina as her own in 1980. She soon gave birth to her daughter Shari Pearson in 1983. Lamar was the ideal wife and mother – always loving and sacrificing herself for her husband and her two daughters.

She was a compassionate spirit, whose passion was caring for her family and others. She cared deeply for the people around her and impacted many lives with her kind, passionate heart.

In 1985, Lamar gave her life to the Lord and later became a member of From the Heart Church Ministries. She was an active church member serving in the Intercessory Prayer and Political Affairs Ministries. Lamar grew in her faith and worshiped there with her family until her illnesses limited her ability to attend services.

In July of 2010, Lamar suffered a severe stroke. Though Lamar’s health was failing, her joy for life and indomitable spirit is what kept her pushing through her pain. She still maintained her humor, determination, and resilience, and her smile would light up any room. Her love, passion, humor, and determination to live and survive, are an example to all.

On Mother’s Day, May 14, 2023, while her husband and daughter were caring for her, Lamar took her final breath. She passed away due to complications from her long-term illness. She will be forever missed and will never be forgotten.

Lamar is survived by her husband Derrick Pearson; her daughters Shari Pearson and Shakina (Dawud) Rawlings, her grandchildren Amena Rawlings and Dawud Rawlings II; godchildren David Pearson and Jocelyn Pearson, her three sisters Sherry (Haze) Law, Tera (Carlton) Kelley and Mardrew (Joe) Blake, and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.