Rachel Yarbrough Duncan

The Great Umpire declared Rachel “safe at home” on June 7, 2014 at 8:30 A.M. She played the game of life with great skill, intensity, and intelligence. She understood the components of playing, coaching, teamwork, character building and inspiring others in the game by example. Above all these things, she put her whole heart into each aspect. Rules of the game meant first, they should be followed, second they can be challenged, and third the umpire has total decision control.

Members of her team who have retired their jerseys with honor include her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Yarbrough, siblings Matilda Yarbrough, Harold Yarbrough, Elsie Newton, and Harriet Pleasant, and Claude Duncan, Rachel’s husband of 39 years.

Still on the playing field are her siblings Fred Yarbrough and wife Betty and Emily Louise Yarbrough as well as her children Rachel Yolanda Turner, Kirk Duncan and wife Bonnie, Dwight Duncan and wife Lorena, Karen Collier, Jennifer Rachel Collier-Wilson and husband Patrick, and friend and life companion of 47 years, Helen Collier. Grandchildren are Chuck Duncan, Ashley Ambrose and husband Chad, and Tabatha Duncan.

Rachel’s winning seasons included many time periods and venues. Sometimes she was a student learning how to best meet the needs of her present situation. She was always open to the very best practices whether studying, farming, dairying, raising her children, building wonderful gingerbread creations or communicating through the printed word and photography. Rachel was a teacher and coach in all these areas. One of her major coaching assignments included 21 years of teaching Graphic Arts and Industrial Communications at Fuquay High School. In this assignment she set up the school’s first Graphics program in 1975. Her way to relate to high school students was to respect each individual, find and celebrate their strengths, expect the best from all and never accept any less. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year at her school by her colleagues as well as multiple times by students for the dedication of their yearbook.

She gave love, joy and pride as a model for young people to watch and she helped them grow in ways they had not yet discovered for themselves. Her dedication to young people was a life-long passion, a love for young people.

A celebration of Rachel’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday afternoon June 11 at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh. Dr. David Hailey will officiate. There will be a visitation at the church from 1:00-2:00 preceding the service and continued visitation after the service also at the church. Hayes Barton Baptist Church is located at 1800 Glenwood Avenue at Five Points in Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to two organizations important to Rachel: Meals on Wheels and/or Special Olympics.