Patsy Jane Bragg, 93, a long-time resident of Williamsburg, Virginia, died peacefully July 25, 2025.
A proud Arkansan by birth, she embraced her love for Virginia, making Virginia her home for more than 50 years. She was the daughter of Tomlinson Newton Means, a farmer, teacher, and county elected official, and Martha Barris Jorgenson Means, a homemaker from Woodberry, Arkansas. She was the last surviving of twelve children born to Mr. Tom and Ms. Marthy Means, with long-standing family roots in Calhoun County.
After graduating from Hampton High School, she attended Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, leaving school early to join her older sisters living in Washington DC after the war. She completed her education at the University of Maryland, College Park earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
She spent most of her career working for the federal government as a civil service employee proudly serving nearly all branches of the armed forces. She spent five years with the Navy’s Military Seas Transportation Service with a temporary assignment to the Army Corp of Engineers, and thirty years with the office of the Air Force Surgeon General where she rose to the position of Director of Congressional and Public Affairs. She was most proud of her advocacy for salary and health benefits for military doctors, dentists, and their dependents as well as championing the establishment of military physician assistant and midwifery programs.
She received many honors and awards including the highest military medicine civilian award, The Association of Military Surgeon Medal, for her advocacy and health policy support for military survivors of Operation Ranch Hand, the government program that air delivered defoliants during the Vietnam War. She was past First Vice President of the Virginia Press Women and a past Regional Director of the National Federation of Press Women.
After her retirement from government service, she embarked on a second successful career as a real estate agent with Long and Foster, rising from top rookie to one of the top selling agents in the Tidewater region. A second retirement well into her 70’s allowed her more time for her many other passions including grandchildren, her precious dog Frisky, and golf as a long-time member of the Williamsburg Country Club.
She is preceded in death by her son, Kevin Bragg, and granddaughter, Patricia Collake. She is survived by her children Sherrie Lessans (Douglas), Debra Bragg, Sandra Mills (Jeff) and Michael Bragg (Sheena). Also survived by grandchildren Harrison Lessans, Robyn Lessans (Dani), and Alexandra LaPrevotte (Robert Dumville), as well as one great-grandchild, Daniel Swinson. She was surrounded by a caring community of friends, neighbors, and caregivers who will miss her warmth, energy, independence, and fierce determination to live life to its fullest.
