Julia NASH

James
December 1, 1923 - April 5, 1994

Julia
April 2, 1936 - July 16, 2014

Mrs. Julia Palomino Nash, 78, of Hamburg, died Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at the Pinewood Health and Rehabilitation Center in Crossett. Mrs. Nash was born in Iquique, Chile on April 2, 1936 to Pedro Palomino Corteq and Olga Garcia. Iquique is a small town in the northern part of the country. She attended school there and graduated from high school in 1954. She worked the next few years in her home town as a room clerk in a hotel. One day at the hotel, she met James U. Nash, an American from Lawson who worked for an oil company out of California. They were married on September 24, 1960. The next few years were itinerant years. Following Mr. Nash’s work, they lived in Brazil, Spain, and several other places before moving to Lawson where he served as City Marshall for three years.

Julia still could not speak English at all. Her husband served as her interpreter. A friend of Julia’s, Mrs. Jesse Little, started teaching her English. Julia would go to Mrs. Little’s home one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. Mrs. Little was a retired school teacher, so after being tutored for a while, Julia picked up the English language enough that she could communicate with people.

In 1970, the Nashes moved to Hamburg. Julia has returned to Chile to see her family several times. But in 1982, she decided to forego and reject her Chilean citizenship to become an American citizen. This was a big step for her. She knew it would be difficult since she hadn’t gone to school in the United States and taken English, US History or Government, all requirements for citizenship. But with the help of the “DAR Manuel for Citizenship”, and her friend, Mrs. Claire Jane Hall, who helped her prepare for the tests for six months, she made it. She took her test in Memphis at the Clifford Davis Federal building on April 7, 1982. The court in Texarkana filed an application for citizenship for her. Julia was sworn in as a naturalized American citizen in the US District Court, Fort Smith Division, on June 23, 1982. Mr. Nash was so proud of his wife. “You’re doggone right I’m proud of her”, he said, “I’m very pleased with her, especially because she made the decision herself.” “Many people believe that when a person marries an American, that person automatically becomes a citizen,” Nash said.

She worked at the Hamburg Shirt Factory in 1971, Rapid Die Molding in 1973, Ashley County Apparel in 1975 and WAM Industries in 1987. She was always excited and proud when she met her quotas each week. She became a very good seamstress and made her beautiful clothes.

Her favorite day was Saturday when she would get all dressed up, heels and all and go shopping and maybe a movie in Monroe at the Mall. She knew the clerks by name and they knew her. Several would eat lunch with her before she left the mall. She always could find the best bargains. “It only cost 4 dollars” she would say. She loved her God and was a member of the First Baptist Church where she served as Sunday School Class Secretary. She is survived by a close friend, Marilyn Chambers of Hamburg.


Graveside funeral services and burial will be 11 a.m., Friday, July 18, 2014 in the Philadelphia Baptist Church Cemetery in Union County with Dr. Bobby Pennington officiating. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, PO Box 352, Hamburg, AR 71646.

Contributed on 1/6/23 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1464082

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