Johnnie B. Yelverton of Worcester rests with his fathers after ninety years that began in Goldsboro, North Carolina, when his parents, Thomas and Pennie Yelverton, celebrated his birth. In Johnnie’s fourteenth year, the late James Best became his brother for a lifetime.
Mrs. Earlena B. Yelverton shared wedding rings with Mr. Yelverton until her death in 2018, after sixty-three years of togetherness. Mr. Yelverton lost his eldest son, the late Mr. Clifford V. Porter in the fall of 2018. His youngest son, the surviving Rev. Johnnie J.T. Yelverton, and four generations of the Reverend’s cousins will miss “Uncle Johnnie.”
Mr. Yelverton served in the United States of America in the Korean Conflict and left the world as an Army Veteran proud of his country. His motivation came from his wife’s family, whose spiritual guidance from the Rev. Emma J. Boykin, and the work ethic from her husband, Mr. Spencer Boykin.
Worcester County and its boundaries was where Mr. Yelverton worked many locations never having less than two jobs at one time. In the late fifties, Mr. Yelverton started his career at the former Worcester State Hospital where he learned for the first time the holy tradition of the Saint named Patrick. His employment started in the kitchen at Worcester State Hospital, and he worked his way up from janitor to driver of patients to and from other state mental health hospitals throughout the state of Massachusetts, sometimes eight hours a day, five days a week.
Mr. Yelverton was appointed to the position of Campus Police Officer on January 17, 1982, until his retirement after thirty-nine years and eleven months of work for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Mental Health at Worcester State Hospital. Going back to the year 1973, during the time of Mr. Yelverton’s work at Worcester State Hospital he founded the J.B. Yelverton Trucking Company. His first employees who held paid positions with the company were his two sons and his nephews, Joseph Boykin, Jr., Richard Chester, Jr., Mario Thomas, Mark Thomas, Charles Boykin, Jr., and Derek Thomas followed by employees that from every neighborhood they came to lend Mr. Yelverton a hand. Mrs. Yelverton fed all the employees if there were hungry when the work day was over.
Mr. Johnnie B. Yelverton and family worshipped at Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church going back in years of the pastor appointments of Rev. John A. Stringfield, Rev. Dr. Richard D. Campbell, Sr., Rev. Dr. William E. Kelly, Sr., Rev. Dr. Robert Johnson, Rev. Nathaniel Perry, as well as our current pastor Rev. Clyde D. Talley.
Mr. Yelverton could be found in union halls, classrooms, board rooms, veteran posts, meeting centers, political rally’s, sick rooms of family and friends, softball fields, picket lines, his wife’s kitchen, his mother-in-law’s, kitchen, funeral parlors, and finding the time to cook his own meals way past his 90th birthday.
When all is said and done Mr. Johnnie B. Yelverton leaves us with memories such as his stopping his car for the crossing guard as the school children cross the Worcester streets or out there on the highways amongst the trailer trucks where he was most comfortable.
Calling hours are Monday, March 4th, from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. in Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church, 55 Illinois Street, followed by his funeral service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Burial is in Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Avenue, Paxton. O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, is assisting the family with arrangements.