Sister Earlena B. Yelverton, 91, peacefully left this world in the early morning hours on Saturday February 3rd in her home. She was a Worcesterite from her birth.

She leaves her loving husband Johnnie B. Yelverton with whom she shared 63 years of holy matrimony. Sister Yelverton also leaves her first born son, Clifford V. Porter and his younger brother, Rev. Johnnie J.T. Yelverton all of Worcester. Sister Yelverton also leaves a large number of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters, Emelie Juanita Boykin-Bracey, Beverly Virginia Boykin-Chester, Hessy Ann Boykin-Thomas-Dupree and her brothers, Joseph Marion Boykin, Sr. and Charles Wesley Boykin, Sr.
Sister Yelverton was the daughter of Spencer and Rev. Emma J. Boykin. She was educated in the Worcester Public Schools, graduated from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst Campus and worked as a Worcester Public School teacher retiring after 40 years.

She was a lifetime member of Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church where she was a Sunday school teacher, BUDS of promise president, choir member and president, started the lay council choir, deaconess, trustee, secretary of the black minister’s alliance missionary, local kingdom builders president, class leader, funeral food coordinator, local lay council president, member of Boykin sisters singing group (performing in the Worcester area).

Her community work consisted of being a member of the Worcester Cultural commission, past president of the Worcester branch of the N.A.A.C.P., member of the Caucus of Minority Democrats, Worcester Democratic City Committee, the City Manager’s Hate Crime Task Force, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Park Spirit Association, the Community Action Council, The Prospect House Board, the Affirmative Action Outreach Committee of Worcester Democratic City Committee, received the Barbara Jordan Award, Director of Christian Education of the youth of the Boston District of the A.M.E. Zion Church during the years of 1975 and 1980, executive secretary right after the founding of the original prospect house, a licensed exhorter of the Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church, member of the planning committee of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King annual community breakfast, planning committee of the John F. Kennedy Memorial dinner, a recipient of the numerous honors and awards in her lifetime that she thanked Almighty God of the Heavens for. She was also a member of the Shrewsbury St. Neighborhood Association, Eastside Community Development Corporation, Senior Center of Worcester Planning Board, Black Senior Center Citizens Group, African Heritage Institute.

The Yelverton Family would like to thank the Worcester Police Department, Officer Conroy and the first responders for their help when it was needed the most.

Her funeral is Saturday, February 10th with a service at 11:00 AM in Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church, 55 Illinois Street. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. A calling hour will be held in Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church from 10:00 AM until the start of the service. O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue is directing arrangements.