Brooklyn Matriarch of Faith and Power: Beloved Grandmother of Actor and Filmmaker Edwin Freeman, Margo Yvonne Little, Dies At 88
Photos: Edwin Freeman Brooklyn, NY — The Brownsville community is mourning the loss of one of its steadfast pillars, Margo Yvonne Little, who passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the age of 88. Born on November 3, 1937, Little dedicated her life to faith, family, and community uplift. A beloved matriarch, she was the maternal grandmother of actor, filmmaker, producer, and rapper Edwin Freeman, best known for his role as legendary hip-hop deejay Mister Cee in the blockbuster biopic Notorious about the life of legendary Brooklyn rapper Notorious B.I.G., and the hit television series Marvel’s Luke Cage as Young Pop. Freeman is also an award-winning filmmaker who produced and directed the acclaimed documentaries Modern Day Slavery: From Plantations to Prisons and Beats & Lyrics: The Essence of Rap. He is the Founder and Executive Director of The Freeman Foundation for the Arts and does extensive work in the communities of Brownsville, East New York, and throughout the rest of Brooklyn. Those closest to Freeman say his commitment to culture, storytelling, and community empowerment was deeply influenced by his grandmother’s example of service and strength. For decades, Little was a respected and active presence in Brownsville and East New York. In the 1990s, she served as PTA President and PAC President of P.S. 298, Dr. Betty Shabazz Elementary School, where she advocated fiercely for students, families, and educational resources. Her leadership extended beyond the school walls, as she worked closely with community activist Gregory “Jocko” Jackson and collaborated with local elected officials, including Councilman Charles Barron and Assemblywoman Diane Gordon, to address issues impacting Central Brooklyn residents. Little was also a longtime, founding member of True Worship Church in East New York, Brooklyn. Her faith anchored her life, and she was known for her quiet strength, warm smile, and unwavering commitment to her church family. In addition to her church leadership, she was a proud member of the Order of the Eastern Star, reflecting her dedication to service, charity, and sisterhood. Friends and neighbors remember her as a unifying force, a woman who showed up, spoke up, and stood firm for her community. Whether organizing parents, supporting local initiatives, or offering encouragement to young people, she embodied the spirit of grassroots leadership that has long defined Brownsville. Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at True Worship Church, 872–874 Crescent Street between Stanley and Loring Avenues in Brooklyn. The funeral service will follow from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Final disposition will take place at Rosedale Cemetery, 355 East Linden Avenue, Linden, New Jersey. As the community gathers to honor her life, many say Margo Yvonne Little’s legacy will live on not only through her family, including her accomplished grandson, but through the generations of Brownsville residents she empowered, mentored, and inspired. Her life was a testament to faith in action, community in motion, and love without limits.
Black News 
Photos: Edwin Freeman
Brooklyn, NY — The Brownsville community is mourning the loss of one of its steadfast pillars, Margo Yvonne Little, who passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the age of 88.
Born on November 3, 1937, Little dedicated her life to faith, family, and community uplift. A beloved matriarch, she was the maternal grandmother of actor, filmmaker, producer, and rapper Edwin Freeman, best known for his role as legendary hip-hop deejay Mister Cee in the blockbuster biopic Notorious about the life of legendary Brooklyn rapper Notorious B.I.G., and the hit television series Marvel’s Luke Cage as Young Pop. Freeman is also an award-winning filmmaker who produced and directed the acclaimed documentaries Modern Day Slavery: From Plantations to Prisons and Beats & Lyrics: The Essence of Rap. He is the Founder and Executive Director of The Freeman Foundation for the Arts and does extensive work in the communities of Brownsville, East New York, and throughout the rest of Brooklyn. Those closest to Freeman say his commitment to culture, storytelling, and community empowerment was deeply influenced by his grandmother’s example of service and strength.
For decades, Little was a respected and active presence in Brownsville and East New York. In the 1990s, she served as PTA President and PAC President of P.S. 298, Dr. Betty Shabazz Elementary School, where she advocated fiercely for students, families, and educational resources. Her leadership extended beyond the school walls, as she worked closely with community activist Gregory “Jocko” Jackson and collaborated with local elected officials, including Councilman Charles Barron and Assemblywoman Diane Gordon, to address issues impacting Central Brooklyn residents.
Little was also a longtime, founding member of True Worship Church in East New York, Brooklyn. Her faith anchored her life, and she was known for her quiet strength, warm smile, and unwavering commitment to her church family. In addition to her church leadership, she was a proud member of the Order of the Eastern Star, reflecting her dedication to service, charity, and sisterhood.
Friends and neighbors remember her as a unifying force, a woman who showed up, spoke up, and stood firm for her community. Whether organizing parents, supporting local initiatives, or offering encouragement to young people, she embodied the spirit of grassroots leadership that has long defined Brownsville.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at True Worship Church, 872–874 Crescent Street between Stanley and Loring Avenues in Brooklyn. The funeral service will follow from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Final disposition will take place at Rosedale Cemetery, 355 East Linden Avenue, Linden, New Jersey.
As the community gathers to honor her life, many say Margo Yvonne Little’s legacy will live on not only through her family, including her accomplished grandson, but through the generations of Brownsville residents she empowered, mentored, and inspired.
Her life was a testament to faith in action, community in motion, and love without limits.
