Queens Public Library Connection

Pamela Kay Armstrong Petties (b. 1940) was an active community member, advocate, and educator who was born, raised, and lived in East Elmhurst, Queens. This section of 98th Street, co-named in her honor, is the same one where she was born and where her father built the family home. Her daughters, Wendy and Daria, were also born in a home nearby on 98th Street.

Biography Contributed by her Daughters:

Pamela Kay Armstrong Petties was born on April 3, 1940, and proudly called East Elmhurst home for most of her life. She built her life here, raising her family, nurturing her community, and creating a lasting impact.

She was a pioneer in early childhood education, helping to found the first daycare center at Resurrection Church in the 1960s, and later serving for over 30 years at Malcolm X Day Care Center, where she supported and shaped the lives of countless children and families.

Pamela believed in people. She believed in conversation, connection, and showing up for others in meaningful ways. She was known for her warmth, her presence, and her ability to make people feel seen and heard.

She also believed in living fully. She loved to travel, not just for herself, but by bringing others along, often giving people their very first opportunity to see the world.

She stayed deeply connected to her community through spaces like the Langston Hughes Community Library & Cultural Center, where she was a member of the Library Action Committee. She often brought children from both the daycare center she founded and from Malcolm X Day Care Center to the library, ensuring they experienced everything it offered: books, programs, and a space that encouraged learning, curiosity, and imagination.

At her core, Pamela was about family, connection, and presence—and it is incredibly meaningful to have her name permanently rooted in the neighborhood she loved. - Wendy Petties April 7, 2026

Pamela Kay Armstrong Petties Way street co-naming was celebrated on April 4, 2026, with a reception at Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center afterward.