Nailah Joy Pugh, a member of Jackson-Reed High School’s class of 2025, passed away on June 23, 2025. Described as fearless and a go-getter, she enhanced the Jackson-Reed community from the first time she stepped into the building. Nailah was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and JROTC while always looking out for her family and friends. Her loved ones honored Nailah’s life with a service on July 11, 2025.
Nailah was born on November 1, 2006 as the youngest daughter to Captain Kevin Pugh and Pamela Pugh. She was strongly family oriented, and loved all her older siblings dearly: older sister Jalissa (Jarrett) Andrews and older brothers Kevin Jr. (Kalen), Michael, and Elijah. Her nieces and nephews knew her as “Auntie Nai” as she was loving and very protective of them.
Growing up as a member of a military family, Nailah moved around the country frequently. Before coming to Washington, DC, Nailah and her family lived all over the country – including in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Texas, Hawaii, and Maryland.
Nailah always made friends very easily, and had maintained strong bonds with her friends across the country despite long distances. Health Education Teacher LeJanika Green echoed this sentiment, describing her as “an amazing young lady,” who “always took the initiative to introduce herself and invite others in.” Green emphasized how “anyone in her presence never felt excluded.”
Nailah was also extremely dedicated to her religion, and was a devoted churchgoer with her family wherever they lived. This was reflected in her participation in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and her persistent passion for her faith. At a young age Nailah was baptized by her father, a chaplain, in Dover, Delaware.
Nailah loved to express herself through fashion, making daring and exciting style choices and learning to sew her own clothes at age 12. She aspired to help people through a career as a neonatal nurse.
Nailah inspired many with her passion and joy. Green will remember her “beautiful soul” and “her bubbly and lighthearted energy.” Nailah will be dearly missed by everyone in the Jackson-Reed community.•
