Gene Yarbrough

Vestal Eugene “Gene” Yarbrough peacefully passed away on September 19, 2023, at the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Hospice Center in Wilmington, NC with his loving family by his side. He was a much beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He was born on June 23, 1938, in Asheville, North Carolina to the late Lucille Rice Yarbrough and Elliott Alexander Yarbrough.

Gene is survived by his wife of 59 years, Shirley Ruth Brackett Yarbrough; daughters Tracy Hargrove (Mark) and Beverly Brown of Wilmington, NC; grandchildren Abigail Brown, Madelin Brown, Nicholas Hargrove and Matthew Hargrove; sister Terry Honeycutt (Ronald) of Candler, NC; nephews Tim Honeycutt (Kim) of Asheville, NC and Scot Honeycutt (Laurie) of Candler, NC, and brother Charles Yarbrough (Shirley) of North Wilkesboro, NC.

Gene attended Mars Hill University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Western Carolina University and The University of Tennessee Knoxville earning a Bachelor of Arts in History, Master’s Degree in Education and an Ed.D. in Education. Gene worked for more than forty years as a history teacher, principal and school system superintendent. He was a teacher at Hall Fletcher Junior High School in Asheville, NC, Juvenile Evaluation Center in Swannanoa, NC, Stonewall Jackson Correctional Facility in Concord, NC and Nakina Alternative School in Whiteville, NC. He served as Principal for Sand Hill Elementary School, Erwin Middle School and Erwin High School in Buncombe County as well as Northeastern High School in Pasquotank County and The Renaissance Center in Duplin County. He was Superintendent of Buncombe County and Brunswick County Schools. Gene was also a proud member of Pine Valley United Methodist Church in Wilmington, NC.

Gene lived his life with independence, pride, confidence, and incredible spirit and strength. He was dedicated to his family and reveled in the joy of being a grandparent. He was strong-willed, even stubborn at times, but he also had an enormous heart and wonderful sense of humor. He was generous, loyal, and brave. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through his life experiences as a teacher, administrator, gardener, sailor, and avid reader. He had an unquenchable appetite for knowledge of the world at large and was blessed to have traveled all over the world visiting the many places he had read about.

Nothing was more important to Gene than family and friends. He truly loved each of them- and if you knew him, you knew it. He always carried himself with determination, dignity, strength, and courage. He will be dearly missed.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 23 at 2:00 p.m. in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home, Asheville, NC, with the Rev. Dr. Paul Raybon officiating. Friends will be received at Groce Funeral Home one hour prior to the service, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at West Memorial Park in Weaverville, NC.

We are deeply appreciative to the entire staff at the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center. In lieu of flowers, you may give a tribute gift online to the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center at lifecare.org/donate in Gene’s name. You may also mail your gift to the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center at 1414 Physicians Dr, Wilmington, NC 28401.