Lucius H. Bracey

Lucius H. Bracey, Jr., passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 31, 2024, in Charlottesville, VA.

Lucius was born in Richmond, VA on December 26,1939, the son of Gladys Yancey Bracey Hodges and Dr. Lucius Hazeltine Bracey. He is survived by his wife, Pamela A. Bracey; his daughter, Keturah, and her husband Jay Horine, and their children, Lily Hart Horine and Thomas Horine, of New Canaan, CT; and by his son, Daniel and his wife Alexandra, and their children, Greyson Bracey, Henry Bracey, and Lucius Bracey, of Charlottesville, VA.

Lucius spent his childhood in South Hill, VA, and nearby Bracey, VA, enjoying time outdoors hunting and fishing with his father, uncles, and cousins. These experiences fostered a lifelong devotion to outdoor recreation and a deep appreciation for the environment. He was a committed member of the Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

Lucius attended North Carolina State University, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Alpha Phi Mu, the Engineering Honorary Society, and the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He graduated with honors in 1961, earning a B.S. in Engineering. As an ROTC graduate, Lucius entered the United States Army as an officer and served for three years.

Lucius was admitted to the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif, served on the Editorial Board of the Law Review, and won the Lile Moot Court competition. His academic excellence in law school opened the door to many opportunities in the legal profession, yet he ultimately chose to remain in Charlottesville and join the firm of McGuire, Woods & Battle (now McGuireWoods), where he remained for the duration of his career.

During his 51-year career with McGuireWoods, Lucius was deeply devoted to his practice in Trusts and Estates. His services and advice were considered invaluable by many of his clients. Known as an excellent listener and negotiator, Lucius had a gift for keeping the peace and finding paths to compromise and agreement in even the most difficult situations. He served as Managing Partner of McGuireWoods’ Charlottesville office for many years. Lucius was a member of the Virginia State Bar, Virginia Bar Association, American Bar Association, Charlottesville Albemarle Bar Association, and American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). He served on various committees of the Virginia Bar Association, the Advisory Committee of the William and Mary Tax Conference, and was an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia School of Law. He spoke at Continuing Legal Education seminars and was a member and former president of the Central Virginia Estate Planning Counsel.

Lucius cared deeply for his local communities and generously shared his time and talents with many organizations. His steady demeanor, openness to new ideas, and skills as a listener allowed him to make significant contributions to the organizations to which he was dedicated.

He served on and chaired various boards related to Martha Jefferson Hospital for over 15 years and was instrumental in setting in motion long range plans for improvement and expansion of the hospital’s services and facilities. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Martha Jefferson Health Services Corporation, and on the Board of Directors of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation.

He co-founded and served as President of Community Attention Home, a local home for troubled youth. He served on the Charlottesville Planning Commission and Board of Architectural Review and was a founding member of the North Downtown Residents Association. He served on the Board and was President of Farmington Country Club.

Lucius devoted his energy and talents to a number of charitable foundations throughout his life. He served as Chairperson, as a Board Member, and on the Advisory Board of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, which facilitates grant-making, philanthropy, and scholarships to local organizations and individuals in need. He was a member of the Advisory Committee and the Board of Trustees of the Claude Moore Foundation, which provides grants and funding to non-profit organizations focusing on education, health, and human services. In 2000, he was honored to receive the Silver Hope Award at the Dinner of Champions sponsored by the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Lucius met and fell in love with his future wife, Pamela, in 1970. They were married on January 22, 1971, at the chapel at the University of Virginia and honeymooned at The Homestead in Bath County, VA. He developed a deep love for Bath County while attending Camp Nimrod on the banks of the Cowpasture River and discovering his love of skiing in the early days of The Homestead ski area. Over the years, Pam and Lucius returned to Bath County to enjoy its unspoiled beauty. He was never happier than when he was in its wilderness, fly fishing and kayaking in the rivers and mountain streams, hiking the numerous trails in the area, or just sitting on the banks of the river taking it all in, especially if accompanied by his family.

Pam and Lucius eventually found a piece of property with sweeping views of the Allegheny Mountains and a lovely stretch of the Cowpasture, which they enjoyed with their friends, children, and grandchildren. Though Bath County was a place for rest and relaxation, Lucius still found ways to help improve the community through involvement with the Cowpasture River Preservation Association and the Garth Newel Music Foundation. He committed significant energy towards efforts to protect the Cowpasture River and to stop the Atlantic Coast Pipeline from harming the river.

Lucius’ love for the outdoors was a constant throughout his life. An adventurer at heart, he was an avid alpine skier and frequently traveled with his friends and family to the Rockies and the ski resorts of West Virginia. He was a passionate backpacker, and as a member of a backpacking group, took numerous multi-day treks through the Appalachian Mountains and beyond. His interests extended to mountaineering and cross-country skiing, including multi-week yurt-to-yurt cross country skiing trips in Idaho and climbing to the summit of Mount Whitney in 2002 at the age of 63. He was a devoted fly fisherman and traveled extensively to fish with friends and his son in places as far away as Montana, Mexico, Belize, Canada, and Cuba.

Lucius loved sharing his hobbies with his children and Pam, who frequently joined him on his adventures. Together, they traveled across the country, visiting National Parks and exploring the wilderness of Alaska. Winter and spring school breaks were often reserved for family ski trips. Alongside his professional and charitable commitments, Lucius was a devoted family man, always taking his place at the dinner table each evening and supporting his children at their academic, sporting, and extracurricular events.

Lucius was a true “Southern Gentleman” in his manner yet modern in his beliefs. He treated everyone he encountered as his equal and devoted endless energy and resources to support those less fortunate than him. Incredibly humble, he often redirected praise to others. When speaking to him one could always tell that they had his full attention and the advice and council given in return was always well-reasoned and helpful. He would not leave a place, be it the boardroom, the river, the woods, or his home, without having made it a better place upon his departure.

The family expresses deep gratitude to the caregivers at Martha Jefferson House Healthcare and to the many friends who supported Lucius and the family over the last months.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday January 19th, 2025, from 1:30 until 4:00 p.m. at Farmington Country Club, 1625 Country Club Circle, Charlottesville, VA. At 2:30pm there will be a time of remembrance during the Celebration of Life.

In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to the Cowpasture River Preservation Association or the Southern Environmental Law Center:

Cowpasture River Preservation Association - The Lucius H. Bracey Cowpasture River Preservation Fund will be used to protect the Cowpasture River’s pristine waters, one of Virginia’s greatest natural assets. Contributions can be made online at cowpastureriver.org or via check to P.O. Box 215 Millboro, VA 24460. Please note “The Lucius H. Bracey Fund”.

Southern Environmental Law Center - Funds will be used to protect the South’s air, water, land, wildlife, and inhabitants. Contributions may be made online at southernenvironment.org or via check to 120 Garrett St., Suite 400 Charlottesville, VA 22902. Please note “In memory of Lucius H. Bracey”.