Raymond Ellis Brann Jr.

1940 - 2024

BRANN, Raymond Ellis Jr., died of renal failure on February 2, 2024, at Virginia Hospital Center. Raymond grew up the son of a school superintendent in the town of Heathsville, in the Northern Neck of Virginia. While in high school, he was chosen to serve as a page in the VA General Assembly. He later attended the Macintyre School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, where he was also a member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. Years later, he completed his MBA at Old Dominion University. Upon his graduation from UVA in 1962, he served two years in the U.S. Navy as a supply officer, including tours to Panama and the Mediterranean, before beginning his banking career. He held numerous executive positions with the First Virginia Bank corporation, leading banks in Tidewater, Richmond, and the Tri-Cities area. He ended his career as Executive Vice President of the FVB Corporation at its headquarters in Falls Church, where he facilitated the bank's merger with BB&T (now Truist). He was proud to have served on several non-profit boards throughout his career.

Raymond was an active UVA alumnus and enjoyed tailgating at Virginia football games, for which he held season tickets. He was an avid gardener, known for keeping vegetable gardens and even transplanting favorite specimens every time he moved. He took great pleasure in lounging on the beach at his retirement condominium in Sandbridge, Virginia. He was a close follower of news and politics, reading two newspapers a day up until his final illness.

Raymond is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Geraldine Copley Brann; his three children Sara Brann (Bill), Raymond Brann III (Aleisha), and Lee Brann; and two grandchildren Eli and Emery Brann. He is also survived by his brother William Perry Brann.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 9, at Gibeon Baptist Church, 48 John Deere Road, Callao, VA 22435.