Reverend Nathaniel “Nate” Brown was born on January 18, 1947, to the late Fred and Myrtle Brown. He was one of ten children born to this union. Nate Brown spent his entire life committed to serving others and to building a better world. He touched countless lives through his ministry and advocacy.

Nate came to Virgini in 1968 and graduated Cum Laude from Virginia Union University on May 7, 1972, with a degree of Bachelor of Science. He quickly became involved with the Richmond, Virginia community. He joined the Moore Street Missionary Baptist Church and established himself as one of the most active members of that church family. It was Moore Street Missionary Baptist Church on December 6, 1992, that he was licensed to preach the Gospel by Dr. Gilbert G. Campbell, Sr., Pastor.

In 1976, Nate served as a Delegate at the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals sponsored by President Gerald Ford and which amplified the national need for additional civil rights legislation to protect individuals with disabilities.

After graduation he worked as the bookstore manager for Virginia Union before becoming a budget analyst with the Central Telephone Company of Virginia (Centel) in 1978. He remained active in advocating for the rights of people with disabilities and was appointed to the Richmond Mayor’s Committee. In that position he helped design, select locations, and supervise the installation of the City of Richmond’s first handicapped-accessible curb ramps.

In 1982, Nate transferred to Charlottesville, Virginia, and became the warehouse supervisor for Centel where he managed a budget of over $5 million. He immediately became active in assisting the creation of a new advocacy organization for people with disabilities, called the Central Virginia Handicapped Advocacy Group (CVHAG). The organization promptly began advocating for the rights of citizens with disabilities and placed pressure on local governmental officials to improve accessibility throughout the community.

In 1983, Nate and CVHAG members affiliated with Handicaps of Virginia to advocate for the passage of the Virginians with Disabilities Act which became law in 1985, five years before the Americans with Disabilities Act became federal law in 1990. In 1983, Governor Charles Robb appointed Nate to the Governor’s Commission to Increase Voter Registration, and also appointed Nate as one of the first members of the newly created Virginia Board for the Rights of Virginians with Disabilities in 1985.

During this same period, Nate continued to serve as the Treasurer of CVHAG and in mid-1984 the organization was awarded a state grant to establish a center for independent living in the Charlottesville area, which was named the Independence Resource Center (IRC). IRC became the fourth center for independent living in Virginia, part of a network that now boasts 17 centers statewide.

Nate became increasingly active with his ministry work in the region, frequently appearing as a guest speaker at many local churches. Nate joined the congregation of the St. John Baptist Church, Cobham, VA during this time and soon began teaching Bible study weekly. He was active for many years in St. John.

His advocacy work on behalf of Virginians with disabilities never faltered, and between 1984 and 1996 he held a variety of positions on the Board of Directors of the Independence Resource Center, including Board Chair. Under Nate’s leadership, IRC built and operated Bainbridge Place, a seven-apartment project that provided accessible and affordable housing to residents with disabilities. He also served six years on the Board of Directors of the Jefferson Area United Transit (JAUNT) which provided reliable and accessible transit services to individuals with disabilities. In 1989, Governor Gerald Baliles reappointed Nate to the newly named Virginia Board for the Rights of the Disabled.

In 1997, Nate spearheaded IRC’s initiative to purchase and build its own facility, located at 815 Cherry Avenue in Charlottesville, Virginia. In addition to housing IRC, the facility also provides minority business incubator space which has spawned five different minority-owned businesses since 1997.

Nate’s contributions to Virginians continued in 2004 when Governor Mark Warner appointed him to the Virginia Real Estate Board, where he advocated for equity and accessibility in real estate transactions and standards.

After retiring from Centel/Sprint in 1998, Nate began working at IRC as a Senior Peer Counselor, continuing his advocacy and assistance to people with disabilities in the region. Nate worked very closely with high school students with disabilities, emphasizing independent living skills.

After retiring from employment with IRC, Nate rejoined the Board of Directors of IRC and continued to provide leadership and guidance to the organization.

He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Frances Steed of Delaware and a host other relatives and friends. Nate was preceded in death by five brothers, James Brown (Marjorie), Ernest Brown (Ellen), Fred Brown (Jessie), Clarence Brown (Maebell), and William Brown (Dorothy); two sisters, Lucille Brown (Joseph), and Sadie Thomas (Bunion), and one half-brother, Erskine Bester.

His mother, Mrs. Myrtle Brown, asked the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter Johnson to take care of Nate as long as he was in Virginia. He was adopted by the entire family, who became his Honorary Johnson Family. Nate became one of us as a brother, an uncle, and friend to our friends. Left to mourn his passing are three honorary sisters, Elsie, Madelean, and Joan, and a number of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

For more on services and to share your condolences, visit JF Bell Funeral Home.