Alene R. Yarbrough

Alene Reddish Yarbrough, of Wilton Manors, Florida died March 4, 2024 at Hospice by the Sea, Boca Raton, Florida.

She was born March 16, 1926 in Odum, Georgia to Ralph Lester Reddish and his wife, Tempie Mae Westberry. She is the second great-granddaughter of Drew Reddish and his wife, Jane Carter, of Appling County, Georgia.

She is the last surviving of her 7 siblings: Thelma Reddish Brown, Lester Ralph Reddish, Robert Lee Reddish, Mary Reddish Cleghorn, Vernon Randall Reddish, Ethelyn Mae Reddish Welch, and Twyla Reddish Flood.

She married Colvin Nelson Yarbrough, son of Leon Nelson Yarbrough and his wife, Josie Weaver, also of Odum, Georgia, on July 15, 1947 in Jesup, Georgia. After residence in Jacksonville, Florida and Macon, Georgia, they moved to Fort Lauderdale in the early 1950’s. Her husband died there April 1, 1973, leaving her to raise three children, Carole, Don and Susan.

She already had a full-time job, but upon her husband’s passing she started working a second part-time job to support her two young children still in the home.

In 1954 she started a career at the draft board in Fort Lauderdale. When the draft board ceased operations at the close of the Vietnam War, she began working for the Social Security Administration helping people obtain their benefits, a job which perfectly suited her personality, to always help others.

She was active in her church. She attended Immanuel Baptist Church, in Fort Lauderdale, for decades. After her retirement, she volunteered at the church’s thrift store that provided clothing to those in need, particularly the homeless. During her formal retirement, she found time to work at Manor Pines Nursing Home, in Wilton Manors, comforting the elderly. She lived the biblical pronouncements do unto others and give aid to the poor, the weakened and the elderly.

She never missed Sunday church services even in her later years when she didn’t have the physical ability to attend, she watched the service on her Ipad.

She is survived by her children: Carole Dianne Yarbrough and husband, Robert F. Schwimmer, of Hollywood, Florida; Susan Marie Yarbrough and husband, Roland J. Born of Wilton Manors and Boynton Beach, Florida; and Don Yarbrough of Fort Lauderdale.

She is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews: Ida Perkins, of Leesburg, Florida; Norma Ellen Gaddy, Cartersville, Georgia; Linda Sue Hess, Gainesville, Florida; Robert S. Reddish, Gainesville, Florida; Samuel Reddish Cleghorn, Attalla, Alabama; Thomas David Reddish, Sr., Butler, Georgia; Nancy Peacock, Georgia; Barbara Davenport, High Springs, Florida; Howard Welch, Gainesville, Florida; Christi Flood-Walker, Grand Haven, Michigan; and Joseph Ralph Flood. And lots of grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Her family is ever grateful to her home health-aides who lovingly cared for her like it was their mother for 24 hours a day for the last six months: Tamika Brown, Dorothy, Mala, and Sandra Gonzalez, who was holding her hand at 1 o’clock in the morning when she left this earth.

Funeral Service: Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 11:00 AM, Baird-Case Jordan-Fannin Funeral Home, 4343 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308, under the direction of Pastor Brian Webb, with interment to follow at 12:30 PM at Evergreen Cemetery, 1300 SE 10th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301.

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