Voletta Wallace Laid to Rest in Star-Studded Funeral

NEW YORK CITY – Voletta Wallace, the mother of iconic rapper Christopher Wallace, known as The Notorious B.I.G., was laid to rest in a star-studded funeral on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. She passed away at the age of 78 in hospice care at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on February 21.

The funeral brought together family, friends, and fellow hip-hop luminaries to honor her legacy as a devoted mother and steward of her son’s memory. The service was held at the same venue where Biggie’s funeral took place just nine days after he was fatally shot in 1997. Attendees began arriving around 9:30 a.m., an hour before the scheduled start of the ceremony.

The casket was elegantly adorned with pink and white flowers, surrounded by family photos that celebrated Voletta’s life and her contributions to her son’s enduring legacy. Among the attendees were Biggie’s children, Christopher Jordan “C.J.” Wallace and T’yanna Dream Wallace, as well as notable figures such as rapper Lil' Kim, Faith Evans, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ son Christian Combs, and Jay-Z’s mother, Gloria Carter.

“This will be an opportunity for all of us… to acknowledge and pay tribute to the matriarch who built her son’s memory into the legacy that stands today,” the family stated prior to the funeral. The sentiment echoed the deep respect that attendees felt for Voletta, who worked tirelessly to promote and manage her son’s estate, which has grown to an estimated $160 million.

C.J. Wallace arrived early and expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of love from attendees. Faith Evans, who was married to Biggie at the time of his death, wore a cream Gucci tuxedo blazer and shared that Voletta’s impact extended beyond family, touching the hearts of many in the hip-hop community.

Young Jefe, an artist from Brooklyn, described Voletta as a mother figure who had a ‘big heart.’ His emotions were palpable as he reflected on her unwavering support for Biggie’s legacy. “She was an incredible woman, and I’m going to miss her,” he said.

Following the service, a public viewing was held the evening before, allowing fans to pay their respects. Voletta not only raised Biggie on her own after her husband left when he was just two years old but also encouraged him in his pursuits, even during challenging times. In a 2017 interview, she expressed her pain over her son’s unsolved murder, stating, “It still hurts that nothing has been done.”

Voletta’s role in preserving her son’s legacy was significant, as she was a producer on the 2009 biopic “Notorious,” which chronicled his life. Born in Jamaica in 1946, Voletta faced numerous hardships but dedicated her life to ensuring that Biggie’s impact on music would be remembered and celebrated.

As the funeral concluded, attendees took a moment to reminisce about Voletta and the profound role she played in the hip-hop world. Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was not in attendance due to his current legal challenges, was an important figure in Biggie’s rise, and his absence was felt during the service. Despite their complicated history, Voletta expressed her disappointment in Diddy in recent statements, hoping for accountability regarding her son’s legacy.

The outpouring of grief and gratitude at Voletta Wallace’s funeral serves as a testament to her impact on both her family and the hip-hop community, as they continue to celebrate the life and music of The Notorious B.I.G.