[NFBV-Announce] The passing of Ken Jessup

Fri Aug 14 19:40:32 UTC 2026

>From Tracy Soforenko, President, National Federation of the Blind of
Virginia

I am saddened to share the passing of Ken Jessup on August 10.  Ken was a
founding member  and the first President of the NFBV Chesapeake Bay Chapter
and a long time advocate for blind people in Virginia. 

Ken actively sought opportunities to advocate for services for blind people
in Virginia in the Virginia General Assembly. For example, Ken was
instrumental in securing funding in support of Virginia Voice. Ken served as
chair of the Virginia Board for the Blind which generously provided funding
for our NFBV Silver Bells program and our various NFBV BELL Academy programs
in Virginia.

Additionally, Ken was bright, warm and  fun and I will personally miss Ken.

His OBITUARY is pasted below and can also be found at

https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/virginia-beach-va/kenneth-jessup-10562
310

Kenneth "Ken" W. Jessup

March 25, 1948  August 10, 2026

Kenneth Ken Jessup, 78, of Virginia Beach Virginia, passed away on August
10th, 2026 after a long and passionate life full of adventure and advocacy.
He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina raised by parents, Robert and
Lillian Jessup. After only a few weeks, he and his parents relocated to
Virginia Beach. During his adolescent years, he took up the sport of
wrestling AND graduating as a proud Cox High School Graduate. He also
continued to wrestle through his college years at Virginia Commonwealth
University.

Out of college, Ken became an entrepreneur of sorts, as he was proud owner
of 5 ARCO Gas stations in the 70s. During that time, he often biked to work
since he could not drive. He then became self-employed through Business
Opportunities for the Blind (B.O.B.) operating several coffee shops located
in the Tidewater area in the 90s. He found great joy in doing what he can,
because he could. Ken was not one to let anything in life stop him. He
became a Lobbyist for Environmental causes in Tennessee, Created and started
up many business opportunities for people with visual impairments. He
participated in and lead several commissions and councils for the blind.

He was President of the Virginia Beach Mayors Committee for those with
disabilities. Ken wrote a book called It Was Just a Phase based on his
life experience as a lobbyist. He loved chatting with his friends online
called Als Blind Café. He was a Master Mason with Princess Anne Chapter
No. 25 in Virginia Beach.

While Ken had no children of his own, he had two loves in his life. His
loving wife, Faye, whom they spent 38 years of pure bliss and adventure, and
his beloved cat, Beaux. He and Faye loved to travel, Ken loved to listen to
Jimmy Buffett, and Faye remembers fondly taking many memorable trips
together. One of Fayes fondest memories is when they took ballroom dance
classes together in their early years of marriage. They capped this off with
dancing the waltz at the annual Christmas recital at the Fred Astaire Studio
in 1992 to the song, Greensleeves.

Left behind to cherish his memory are his loving wife Faye Adams, his cat
Beaux, sister Evelyn Watkins, and sister Joy Rowland(Al), his brothers Marty
Ayscue(Ann), and Randy Ayscue(Faye), and Nephew Jay Ayscue(Jessica), as well
as countless cousins and other friends.

In Lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice in Kens
honor, or to the Parkinsons Foundation.

A service is planned for a later date at All Saints Episcopal Church, date
to follow. Please check back at:

https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/virginia-beach-va/kenneth-jessup-10562
310

Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595

 <mailto:Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com> Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com

 <http://www.nfb.org/> www.nfb.org

 <http://www.nfbv.org/> www.nfbv.org

National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nations blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.

Peace,

Jacki Bruce

mailto:jackibruce6 at gmail.com or membership at nfbv.org
<mailto:membership at nfbv.org>  

tel:(757)291-1789

Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia

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www.nfbv.org <http://www.nfbv.org/> 

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