Rachel Judith Brandon Sears, 82, of Fairfax, Virginia, passed away on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at Cherrydale Health and Rehab in Arlington, Virginia.

A funeral service will be held On Thursday, August 27 at 2:00 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home with Pastor Paul Larrimor officiating. Interment will follow in Bentonville Baptist Church Cemetery in Bentonville.

Rachel was born April 22, 1944 in Climax, Minnesota, daughter of Frank T. Brandon of Bentonville and the late Myrtle Elaine Berg Brandon.

She was a registered nurse for many years and then retired as an editor from the Smithsonian Institution after many dedicated years.

Rachel was very instrumental in helping children in need. She loved to read and you could most times find her in a library. She shared her love and her heart with her family and friends and anyone she met. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Surviving is her loving and devoted daughter, Tiffany Sears of Fairfax; two brothers, David Brandon and wife Claire of Front Royal and Barry Brandon and wife Lorraine of Bentonville; two beloved grandchildren, Brooke Bowman (Mike) and Keihly Wynn (William) one great-granddaughter, Mischa Bowman; special nephews and niece, Zachary (Alex), Joshua (Stephanie) and Jennifer (Andy); and one great-niece, Jillian.

Pallbearers will be family and friends.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 27 from 1-2 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Shared Hope International, Institute for Justice and Advocacy at https://sharedhope.org/donate/