Patricia Yarbrough

Patricia Shelnutt Yarbrough went home to be with the Lord on Friday, December 27, 2019 at ARMC. She was born in Alabama to the late Dewey Hobson and Ivie Prince Shelnutt. She was the wife of William “Bill” Peter Vandervelde who survives.

Patricia retired as a social worker with the state of North Carolina. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Burlington where she sang in the church choir for many years. Patricia founded and organized Daphne’s Fragrance Garden at the Kernodle Senior Center. She also founded and organized the first bowling league for the blind in Alamance County, first and only Braille class in the county through ACC. She was the president of the Federation of the Blind for Alamance County. Patricia through her tireless efforts helped to build a better life for the blind in her community.

Survivors include her husband, William “Bill” Peter Vandervelde of the home; her guide dog “Phoenix”; daughters, Vicky Lynn Stuckey and Sherry Jean Dixon both of Burlington; step sons, Robert Vandervelde and wife, Myong of South Korea and Bill Vandervelde and wife, Christy of Kernersville; three grandchildren, four great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; four step grandchildren and two step great grandchildren; one brother and two sisters.

A service to celebrate her life will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2019 at 2:00pm at the First Baptist Church of Burlington by Dr. Terry Peele. The burial will follow at Alamance Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:45pm prior to the service at the Gathering Place of the church.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Burlington, C/O Music Fund, 400 S. Broad Street, Burlington, NC 27215.