Edward Cabell Brand Sr.

Edward Cabell Brand, 91, of Salem, Virginia, died Tuesday, January 13th, 2015. He was born and raised in Salem, and graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1940. Valedictorian of his 1944 graduating class at Virginia Military Institute (VMI), he earned an engineering degree, and went on to study at Harvard Business School and The University of Virginia. While at VMI, he was called to serve in the 70th Infantry Division in World War II. He returned to VMI to complete his education, and then became an economic analyst in the Intelligence Office of Berlins Military Government, and with the U.S. Foreign Service in Europe. At the end of his military service, he held the rank of Captain and was a recipient of the Bronze Star. Following the completion of his education, he went to work at The Ortho Vent Shoe Company in Salem, a company founded by his grandfather. Eventually, he became president of Ortho Vent and took it public as The Stuart McGuire Company in 1970. In 1986, he merged Stuart McGuire with The Home Shopping Network, where he remained as a consultant until 1995. He served on numerous boards, including First Virginia Bank, Armstrong Chemicals, Electrolux Corporation, and nine years on The Virginia State Board of Health, serving as its Chairman during his last four years, the first businessman to ever hold that position. He was a trustee of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment;, Chairman of Young Presidents Organization;, and a board member of The National Academy of Sciences. He believed his greatest achievement, however, was as founder of Total Action Against Poverty (TAP), currently known as Total Action for Progress, in 1965. The Roanoke community-action agency provides more than 30 programs to the Roanoke Valley, including career development, affordable housing, clean water, education, legal aid, economic and community development, and early childhood education. TAP created the first Head Start program in Virginia, bringing early childhood education to the underserved. The Virginia Water Project, providing clean water to rural Virginians, was a passion of his, as was serving on the board and as Chairman of Child Health Investment Partnership (CHIP), until 1996. In 1987, he founded The Cabell Brand Center for International Poverty and Research Studies, providing students with an opportunity to study and research issues of poverty, peace, and the environment. The Center is proud to have offered more than 500 students the chance to learn and pursue public service opportunities. He was also the proud author of If Not Me, Then Who?, not a memoir, but a review of his life experiences and how they shaped his passion for public service. The book serves as a reminder of how much one person can do to positively influence the lives of others. It is used as required reading in the Shepherd Poverty Program at Washington & Lee University, and other academic programs around the country. He was widely recognized for his relentless efforts to improve his community and the lives of the underprivileged. He was the recipient of the VISTA award for being the businessman in the United States who had done the most for low-income Americans; the Lyndon Baines Johnson Humanitarian Award; Virginia Governor Gold Medal Award for volunteering excellence; the first Jonathan Daniels Award from VMI; Noel Taylor Humanitarian Award; Salem Rotary Clubs Outstanding Citizen Award; and Roanoke-Salem Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award. He received honorary degrees from Washington & Lee University, Roanoke College, Ferrum College and Virginia Western Community College, and Lynchburg College. He was featured in the book Some Do Care for his exemplary leadership in the United States, and in Whos Who in America. Cabell made the decision to donate 20 percent of his time to make the world a better place and to strengthen our society. He was the most proud of his accomplishments on issues that met the most resistance, such as school integration, womens rights, and equal opportunity for all. For this, and for all other his other goals, he truly felt that he had finished his duties in this world. Cabell is survived by daughters Sylvia Brand Knaup (Gunther) of Columbia, TN; Miriam Brand Kline (John) of Richmond, Va.; Caroline Brand Mateja of Charlottesville, Va.; Liza Pence Urso of Dallas, Tx.; grandchildren Brandon Kline, Kathryn Kline, Philip Urso, Laura Urso, Christin Urso, Cabell Keating Brand, Rachel Pence, Shelley Pence, Thomas John Pence, Benjamin Pence, Maggie Mateja, Patrick Mateja, Jack Mateja, and Caleb Pence; niece Virginia Hurt Johnson of Washington, D.C.; sister Mary Holmes Smith of Alexandria, Va; other nieces and nephews. Cabell is predeceased by the love of his life, his beloved wife Shirley, with whom he spent his best 49 years,, infant daughter Ingrid Pichen Brand, sons Marshall Cabell Brand, Edward Cabell Brand, Jr., Richard Franklin Pence and John Wilson Pence. The family will be forever grateful for the loving care provided to Cabell by his dedicated caregivers Benna Pulliam, Nikki Ford, Wanda Chenault, and Chasity Flourney. The family will receive visitors at John M. Oakeys in Salem from 5-8pm on Friday, January 16th. There will be a memorial service at Salem Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 17th at 2:30pm, following a private family burial. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to one of the following charities: The Cabell Brand Center for International Poverty and Resource Studies at www.cabellbrandcenter.org The Shirley Hurt Brand Fund to Benefit Childrens Hunger Relief at Feeding America Southwest Virginia, 1025 Electric Road, Salem, VA 24153 Total Action for Progress, at www.tapintohope.org Online condolences may be made at www.johnmoakey.comVisitation

Friday, January 16th, 2015 5:00pm - 8:00pm,

John M. Oakey & Son Chapel

305 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, Virginia 24153

Service Information

Saturday, January 17th, 2015 2:30pm,

Salem Presbyterian Church

41 East Main Street Salem, VA 24153

Interment Location

East Hill Cemetery

Address Not Available Salem, VA