Christopher (Sun) Ray Brasted

Albemarle County resident Christopher (Sun) Ray Brasted, local newspaper reporter/editor and founder of ScribeConcepts, died at 7:49 a.m. Wednesday, January 18, 2023, in his home, surrounded by his wife Jody Knowles; his brother Cameron Brasted; and his dogs, Haley Tuna & Vax. Chris was 53 years old.

Born in the early morning of a hot summer night June 27, 1969, in Holland, MI, to Raymond Brasted and Dixie Lee (Moon) Brasted, he arrived so quickly his parents barely made it to the hospital in time. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Albemarle County; this - and other nearby counties (Culpeper, Orange, Greene) - is where Chris remained most of his life.

Cameron, born in 1971, was a never-leave-his-side brother and friend for all of Chris’s life. The brothers shared a lifetime of experience and a love for each other that could not be broken regardless of personal challenges.

A pivotal event that formed part of Chris’s extraordinary life was the awarding of a scholarship as a teen to attend University of Virginia’s “Young Writers Workshop.” Here, he honed his already talented craft of writing, something he continued throughout his life. In addition to journaling and authoring business articles and white papers, he regularly wrote short stories based on his life experiences, submitting and often winning top honors in the NYC Midnight Writing Competition. Because writing was such an integral part of Chris’s life, he collected old typewriters and chose a fountain pen nub for his company’s logo.

Chris’s early professional writing experience included work as reporter, photographer, and editor of The Greene County (VA) Record and the Orange (VA) Review. He also founded and published his own newspaper, The Corridor, chronicling life up and down Rt. 29.

In 1998, Chris joined Plow & Hearth at the Madison County (VA) Country Store, later earning a position on the catalog’s production team. Working side-by-side with strong role models like P&H Founder Peter Rice and Workflow Strategist David Lynn-Overbey, Chris observed, practiced, and perfected strategies that led him to build his own business.

After short stints at SNL Financial and Core Knowledge Foundation, Chris launched ScribeConcepts.com in 2003, when he led teams within the industry (print, online, multi-channel operations, and educational curriculum publishers) through the demands of the publishing process with creative workflows.

Chris served as Chief Strategist and remained the organization’s sole employee for a long time, creatively using consultants from around the world to get jobs published on time and on budget. His company grew to include 12 worldwide employees and more than 200 consultants.

This year, ScribeConcepts will observe its 20th anniversary. His team gathered in January this year in the company’s office space across from Ix Art Park for the Scribe Summit, and Chris was able to attend this event.

In October 2007, Chris married his soulmate Jody Knowles. They worked together at many companies; became involved in multiple organizations (including the Human Rights Campaign, Charlottesville Gay Pride, and TransCanWork); and brainstormed the next generation of ScribeConcepts. Together, their home welcomed “orphans, mad dogs, and brawlers” on Thanksgiving Day every year for folx with nowhere to go; they were always pleased when they could open their door and their hearts to people of all walks of life, including some whom they’d never met.

Two other important factors impacting Chris’s life included his sobriety: he received his 7-year chip in January; and his commitment to God: he served in numerous medical missions to Haiti through Raccoon Ford Christian Fellowship, worshiped regularly for several years with Northridge Community Church, and continued to provide financial support to Orange Church of the Nazarene in order to bring all people to God.

In May 2021, after months of discomfort, Chris was diagnosed with the very rare T-cell lymphoma by the oncology team of Dr. Enrica Marchi at UVA Health. Under Dr. Marchi's care, Chris was offered a variety of chemotherapies and radiation treatments. Only radiation, with the remarkable team led by Dr. Paul Read, could “melt away” areas of lymphoma. Although Chris’s motto of “ONWARD!” still rings in our ears, his body succumbed to this bloodborne disease.

Chris’s life was multifaceted: from the most dapper outfits as a youngster until his early 50s; to his vast collection of music that covered all eras, genres, and medium; to his passion for all things Apple; to his compassion for the pups in his life, to his love of all people. His last request, per his will: “Above all, I would like everyone to be kind. To yourselves and to one another. Assume good intent. Strive for good. Forgive. And no matter what, love anyway.”

Chris is survived by his wife, Jody; his brother, Cameron; his father, Raymond, and his stepmother, Susan Lazarus, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He also leaves Haley Tuna and Vax, who miss him very much. He was preceded in death by his mother in 1992.

Memorial contributions in Chris’s name may be made to UVA Cancer Center, T-Cell Lymphoma Research (22700), UVA Health, P.O. Box 37963, Boone, Iowa 50037 or Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911.