George Albert Bragg

Born on May 7, 1953, he was the son of Arlie Shepard Bragg and Margie Eleanor Vasquez Bragg. George is survived by his wife, Melody Estelle Bragg; his son, Morgan George Bragg and his wife Ashley White Bragg of Beaver WV; his daughter, Dyane Estelle Corcoran and her husband Kenneth Corcoran of Slab Fork WV, and his son, Zachary Aaron Bragg of Hopewell VA. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his grandson Kyle Ryan Corcoran, his great grandson Kaleb Ryan Corcoran of Coal City, WV and a sister, Debra Bragg Rose of Hopewell, VA.

George was first and foremost a family man who never faltered in his personal commitment to “Always Put Family First”. He demonstrated this in his unwavering loyalty and support to those he loved. For 38 years he was a devoted husband and best friend to the love of his life, Melody. He was a loving father to his daughter, Dyane, who always brought him joy and laughter and who he called “ the funniest person alive” and he was the proud father and Number One fan of his son, Beckley Police Department Detective Morgan G. Bragg.

Besides his family, George’s greatest passion was photography. For three decades, he worked as a professional photographer specializing in panoramic photography utilizing an antique Cirkut Camera and was one of only 20 photographers in the United States experienced in this unique format. He never lost his passion for mastering new challenges in photography and was also one of the first professionals in the area to offer drone images commercially.

As a former coal miner, George had a deep respect and constant interest in the history of Southern West Virginia. He and his wife operated a local publishing company specializing in publications telling the rich history of the West Virginia Coalfields. He was also the publisher and author of three books on West Virginia Unsolved Murders.

George was passionate in his devotion to his community and desire to help protect it. One of his proudest achievements was being the organizer and leader of TNT (Tourists Not Trash), a community group which won a battle preventing a mega-landfill from being constructed at Garden Ground on the site which now houses the Boy Scout Summit.

He attended the WV Institute of Technology in Montgomery and the College of West Virginia in Beckley.

George was a member of the Oak Hill Masonic Lodge, the United Mine Workers of America and a former Chairman of the Fayette County Solid Waste Authority. He also served on the Board of Directors of the New River Family Health Center for over 20 years. He was a member of the Glen Jean Union Church and was baptized at the Red Star Baptist Church.

A memorial service will be at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 2, 2018 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C Byrd Drive, Beckley, WV. Friends may call prior to the service beginning at 5:00 p.m. Arrangements are being entrusted to Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Prosperity.