Miss Barbara Gloria Nalls
October 14, 1930 - May 21, 2010
On Friday, May 21, 2010, Barbara Gloria Nalls of Washington, DC, died quietly at the Washington Home. She will be missed by her dear friends at the Washington Home, Georgetown neighbors, and Robert Shiar.
Barbara Gloria Nalls, an only child, was born in Falls Church Virginia in 1930 to Nathalie (nee Arnitter) and Harry Nalls. Miss Nalls graduated from Falls Church High School in 1947. She attended and graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri in 1949 and received a certificate from the National Academy of Broadcasting in 1950.
Ms. Nalls was one of the first woman journalists. She began her career as a cub reporter in high school and continued her life long love of reporting with stints in early television broadcast, radio and written journalism. In 1950 she became a reporter for the WJJJ Radio station in Montgomery, Alabama. She was responsible for reporting local community events and news. In 1951, she returned to Arlington, Virginia to work as the traffic director for WEAM Radio Station. In 1952, she became an assistant to Hazel Markel, star of the Hazel Market radio show and society columnist. During her tenure she became an executive producer for the show and wrote much of the broadcast materials particularly for the diplomatic guest interviews. However, Ms. Nalls was noted for her popular animal stories including the popular “Henry the Parrot” stories.
In 1962, Ms. Nalls joined the City News Bureau as head of its new feature reporting service. As part of the City New Bureau, Ms. Nalls set up interviews and wrote many of the stories for the bureau. Ms. Nalls also became associate editor at the Washington Illustrated, a monthly magazine associated with City News Bureau. She covered numerous Washington events as well as wrote stories for the magazine. Her favorite interviews include those with John Wayne, Eleanor Roosevelt and Jacqueline Kennedy.
Ms. Nalls continued to work with the City New Bureau until its dissolution in the 1980s.
Ms. Nalls was a Georgetown resident since the 1960s. She was active in local and national politics as well as avid gardener and noted animal lover. She also enjoyed crafting and had a side business selling her hand crafted items. She died on May 21, 2010 and buried on July 16, 2010 at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia with her mother and father.
Funeral Information
A Celebration of her Life Service will be held on Friday, July 23, 2010 at 2:30pm at the chapel of the Washington Home. The Washington Home is located at 3720 Upton St. NW, Washington, DC 20016. All are welcome to attend the service.
Donations Information
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to SPCA.