Barbara Nunn Howell

Barbara Nunn Howell, 94 of Lawrenceville, GA, went home to be with the Lord on January 27, 2021. She will be remembered as a wonderful wife, loving mom and fantastic grandmother. She loved music, playing bridge, having her extended family together, and one who loved the Lord and enjoyed teaching the Bible.

Barbara was born on January 6, 1927 in Atlanta, GA, the younger daughter of Inman Fuller Nunn and Willie Lou Post. She resided primarily in the Atlanta area, although the family also lived in Birmingham, AL; Tampa and Miami, FL; Buffalo, NY; and Pasadena, CA. She graduated from Girls High School, Atlanta, GA in 1946 and attended Georgia State pursuing a major in music.

She trained vocally under Mr. John Hoffman, Director of the Atlanta Civic Opera and was involved in “Heaven on Earth,” and “Student Prince” productions in Atlanta. In 1946 she did a Hollywood screen test and lived for six months at the Hollywood Studio Club. Later she starred in “Song of Norway” on Broadway and travelled by train for several months while the show was on tour.

In October 1949, Barbara married Don N. Howell, a graduating student at Georgia Tech. She worked for a year under Dr. Good at the Center for Disease Control. She also continued her singing as soloist for Peachtree Road Methodist Church from 1956 to 1967, All Saints Episcopal, and North Avenue Presbyterian. She sang weekly for the Baptist Radio Hour. “O Holy Night” became an annual performance first on radio and then TV.

As a family they attended Metropolitan Baptist Church, Berean Baptist Church and Killian Hill Baptist Church throughout the years.

Barbara is survived by Don, her husband of 71 years; a sister Gloria Oliver of Nashville, TN; a son, Don Jr. (Melissa) and two daughters Robin Howell Hudson (Beau) and Jennifer Howell Harding (Michael); six grandchildren: Michelle Howell Dobbie (Will), Eric Howell (Jill), Rachel Harding Klaus (Ben), Rebecca Harding Meyer (Mark), Maaike Harding Kahn (David), and Luke Harding (Sara); and seventeen great-grandchildren.