Pamela Hookham

Pamela Sue (Beck) Hookham, 64, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2026, following a short hospitalization after an accidental fall at her home.
Pamela was born on March 26, 1962, in Wilson, North Carolina, to William and Linda (Norris) Beck. She was the first of identical twin girls; her birth was followed shortly afterwards by her twin sister, Patricia “Trish” Beck. The two sisters were constant companions throughout their lives. After her parents divorced, Pamela’s father remarried Alice Jackson, and the family eventually settled in Rockford, Illinois.
Pamela had a son, David, from a previous relationship whose father died in an automobile accident in 1980.

In the fall of 1980, Pamela’s twin sister, Trish, called a popular Chicago radio station, WMAQ, and impersonated Pamela in order to enter her in the station’s call-in “dating service.” Among the men who called hoping to meet Pamela was Bob Hookham of Rochelle, Illinois, who, coincidentally, is also an identical twin.
As Pamela later told the story, “He was cute, he had a HOT car, and he had a bank account!”

After Bob took her to see Smokey and the Bandit Part 2, the two were married just 10 weeks later, on December 6, 1980. Bob and Pamela began their life together, raising David and building a family of their own.

Throughout nearly 46 years of marriage, Pamela was a strong and loving presence in her family. She was a woman of deep faith who made sure her family stayed grounded in church and in the Bible. She also homeschooled five children, pouring countless hours of love, patience, and dedication into raising her family.
Pamela enjoyed watching true crime shows, talking with friends on the phone, collecting elephant figurines, more than 200 of them can be found throughout her home, and getting her nails done. Technology was not always Pamela’s strong suit, and she could frequently be heard asking Bob to show her what was wrong with the TV remote.

A year after a tornado devastated their home in 2004, a friend encouraged the family to visit the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, MO. Within weeks, a special bond was created between the Chapel’s Chaplain, Larrene Hagaman, and Pamela. Later choosing Larrene to be her ‘adoptive mom’. Larrene was the mother figure that Pamela had always longed for. She was her confidant and later inspiration to write a book.

Shortly after her Trish’s death in 2022, Pamela’s son Daniel bought her a French bulldog, sort of. This Frenchie turned out to be part Chihuahua, Beagle, Supermutt, Rat Terrier, Dachshund, French Bulldog, Pug, and Australian Cattle Dog! But he was all Pickel to her. In December 2025, she became a published author with her biblically inspired book “It’s Hard To Be A Pickel When Everyone Thinks You’re A Dog”.
Pamela was preceded in death by her parents, William and Alice Beck; her sons Drew and Kelly; and her beloved twin sister, Trish.

She is survived by her husband Bob; her sons David and Daniel; her daughters Chelsey (Steve Sims), Hannah (Joe Liberator), and Grace; her grandchildren Sol Sims, 8, and twins Stella and Luna Sims, 3, as well as three grandchildren through her daughter Hannah; older sister, Lori Beck; younger brother, William “Billy” Beck Jr.; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Pamela will be remembered for her unwavering faith, devotion to her family, sense of humor, strong personality, and the love she gave so freely to those around her. Her presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.