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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>It is with great sorrow that we share the passing of our longtime friend and leader, Charles “Charlie” Brown. Charlie was a driving force in the National Federation of the Blind at a national and state level for nearly 50 years. At a national level, Charlie served on our national Board of Directors, served as national Treasurer, served as an attorney on our national staff, and played a significant role in ensuring civil rights for blind people, especially voting rights. In Virginia, Charlie served as President of the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia for 26 years and was instrumental in our work across the Commonwealth, in building our affiliate and many of our chapters, and in the lives of so many of our members. He directed our legislative advocacy to achieve successes such as the Virginians With Disabilities Act and many important legislative changes that have impacted the lives of countless disabled Virginians. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>However, for many of us, Charlie was not only a leader but a tremendous friend and mentor. I think I speak for many that Charlie Brown was a true friend and role model who was committed to me and my family. Charlie, along with his wife Jacki, were generous with their help, compassion, and advice for so many in Virginia and throughout this country. Charlie was committed to the National Federation of the Blind, to his work as a public servant for many years, to his community through his leadership in the Kiwanis Club of Arlington, to his church, and to his family. He was a tremendous friend, role model, and leader who will be sorely missed.<o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Funeral Details:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>On Sunday, August 1, Charles Brown passed peacefully. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Services for Charles will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Omps Funeral Home in Winchester, Virginia.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Omps Funeral Home<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>, 1600 Amherst St. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Winchester, VA 22601 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>540-662-6633 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><a href="http://ompsfuneralhome.com/" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>ompsfuneralhome.com</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>The service will be held in the Amherst Chapel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Due to COVID restrictions, it is important for the family to know estimated counts of who will be attending the funeral. The family </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>will have services with food afterwards. Again, all are welcome but, the family just needs a general head count because of possible capacity restrictions.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Within the National Federation of the Blind, Sandy Halverson has agreed to collect the names of people who will be attending the funeral. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Additionally, recognizing that transportation to Winchester is complex, we are arranging bus transport from Arlington Virginia to Winchester on Saturday, August 14. Sandy is taking reservations on the bus to the funeral for those interested. We are working on bus cost details but anticipate the cost will be in the range of $30 to $50 roundtrip per person. We kindly ask you to RSVP to Sandy by Sunday, August 8 so we can provide an approximate head count to the family and work out bus capacity requirements.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Sandy Halverson<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:sjh300@outlook.com">sjh300@outlook.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>703 400 6890<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> After that date, you are still welcome to attend but we ask that you RSVP to the family directly by emailing <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;line-height:105%'><a href="mailto:charlesbrownrsvp@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>charlesbrownrsvp@gmail.com</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Charlie’s memory may be made to: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>3230 Grove Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Richmond, VA 23221</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>or you can give online at:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.NFBV.org/give"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>www.NFBV.org/give</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Alternatively, you can contribute to <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> the Chaplaincy Fund<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>300 Westminster-Canterbury Dr<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Winchester, VA 22603.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>For further information please visit the obituaries and tribute wall at </span><a href="http://ompsfuneralhome.com/" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>ompsfuneralhome.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>The Obituary will be distributed once it is available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'>This email is going to many people. Please, share this with parties that might want to attend. Again, the family recognizes that there are some restrictions, but they believe it is possible to accommodate all that might wish to attend. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'>If you have specific questions for the family, please reach out to Charlie’s son Stephen Brown <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'>571-512-2228<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><a href="mailto:sstbrown@gmail.com">sstbrown@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tracy Soforenko<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>202 285-4595<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbv.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfbv.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>