Remembering Gloria Barrett

Gloria Barrett 1931-2020

Gloria Barrett lived her life by the words of the Zonta Collect, "And O Lord, God, let us forget not to be kind." Gloria was a professional woman with many, many talents. But when asked what people remember about her, to the person they say "she was always so kind!"

She loved telling people that she was born on Christmas day; a preemie so tiny that her mother placed the swaddled infant in a shoe box kept in an open oven with the pilot light on to keep her warm. While the doctors had told her mother that little Gloria wouldn't make it, the deeply maternal woman refused to hear it and created her own incubator for her baby. Gloria liked to say that her dear mother and God proved that doctor wrong!

But more than anything, she loved her husband, Bud, and their kids and her sisters. She and Bud co-owned a Century 21 real estate business for decades, and they were very active in the community. Gloria and her pal, Carmen Sarro, helped make Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital a reality. From founding the Hospital Auxiliary to creating the Holiday Home Tour, Gloria was there. One would always see her at the Boys & Girls Club Auction checking people in or dancing with Bud.

As a Zontian since 1984, Gloria served on numerous committees including Healthy Woman's Day, Healthy Kids Club, Women in Service and various scholarship committees including the Virginia Wrage Fund Scholarship Committee.

After the passing of Bud and her sisters, Gloria mourned deeply. She joined them on Friday, July 17, 2020. Her kindness and joy are missed by all. There will be a celebration of Gloria's life when we can all gather again. In the meantime, rest in peace, dear Gloria, and in her memory, let us forget not to be kind.