Rebecca Bragg Yarborough

Rebecca Bragg Yarborough, 89 of Sanford peacefully passed away on Thursday June 4, 2026. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm Tuesday June 9, 2026 at East Sanford Baptist Church. The family will greet friends before the service starting at 2 pm.

Rebecca was born in Gastonia, a daughter of the late Earl L Bragg and Pauline Anderson Bragg. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of many years, Bobby J. Yarborough, who passed away in 2012. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Rebecca worked as a Registered Nurse for 40 years and loved every day of it. For 17 years she worked with Dr Miller and Dr Baker who delivered both of her children. She had many nursing jobs but finished her career with the Gaston County Health Dept where she was a Public Health Nurse III in Pediatrics. Over the years she formed many lasting friendships and had many dear friends.

Rebecca was a 1954 graduate of Gastonia High School. In 1957 graduated from North Carolina Baptist Hospital School of Nursing (Wake Forest College in Winston Salem) as a Registered Nurse. Throughout her life she loved spending time with family, celebrating birthdays and especially Christmas. And she especially loved the trips to the beach and even lived there for a short time. She loved to play tennis, golf and bowling in her younger years. She never knew a stranger and had the most beautiful smile. She also loved to read, cook, collect recipes and recipe books.

Surviving are her children, Julie Stanley (Kevin), and Jeff Freeman (Darlene); stepson, Michael Yarborough (Melody); grandchildren, Zachary Freeman, William Freeman (Dani), Susanna Freeman, Emily Stanley Wicker (Richard); Evelynn Freeman, Stephen Freeman (Joanna), Ashlyn Stanley, Melodie Freeman and Ethan Stanley; great-granddaughter, Catherine Wicker; sister, Rose Rose (Jerry); brother, Larry Bragg (Peggy); and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by siblings, Earl Taylor Bragg, David Bragg, and Ardie Patricia Hurst.

A private burial will be held at 11am on Thursday in Gastonia Memorial Park. We would like to extend a special “Thank You” to Megan French, Ruby and Brenda Griffin Barbara Fisher and all the caregivers on the 400 hall at Sanford Health and Rehab for their extra special care of our mom.