On Friday, June 30, 2017, God looked around and decided it was time to call His faithful servant home to help tend the garden. Joseph Francis Braig, 101 joined his beloved wife Shirley to whom he was married for 67 years.

Born April 22, 1916 in West Point, NY to Eugene Charles and Agnes Marie (Baldwin) Braig, the family moved to Hampton when Joe and his four brothers were very young and they grew up on Newport News Avenue. Joe graduated from Hampton High School in 1936 and took courses at both Georgetown University and New York University.

Joe was a founding and longtime member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, a member of the former Hampton Lions' Club, and a lifelong member of the Hampton Elks Lodge #366. Before going to work at NASA-Langley, Joe worked for a time at the Newport News Shipyard. He retired from NASA in 1981 after 35 years of service during which time he was responsible for establishing the Small Business Program. It should be noted that all of the five Braig brothers, Raymond E., James "Ros", Eugene C., Richard "Dick", and Joe, worked at NASA with a combination of 184 years of service.

Survivors include his daughter, Barbara Braig Ward of Fayetteville, NC; his granddaughter, Patricia Rau King and her husband, Kenny of Burlington, NC; two great-grandchildren, Taylor Marie and Austin Brian King; and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Richard V. Braig (Katie). He will be missed by many other relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, July 5, 2017 in the R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home chapel by Deacon Jose Gonzales. Interment will follow in Parklawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Joe's family would like to express a special thanks to Jeannie Peters and Ralph Ryan who brought so much happiness to his life.

Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch, 531 Hillsboro Street. Fayetteville, NC 28301.