Evelyn Kirby Young

Evelyn Kirby Young, 94, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the home of her oldest son, Jim and his dear wife, Mary. Evelyn was born in Roxboro, NC to the late George Cable Kirby, Sr., and Ola McSherry Kirby.

Evelyn grew up on the family farm in Roxboro, and to hear her tell it, she started working on the land at the age of three.

While living on the farm was an important part of Evelyn’s childhood, she also excelled in school and graduated as the Valedictorian of Roxboro High School’s Class of 1949.

After high school, Evelyn came to Greensboro where she attended Women’s College (UNCG), and this is where she met her future husband, James W. Young, Jr. (Buck). Buck and his friends would spend time together around Women’s College in those days and Evelyn caught his eye.

Evelyn and Buck were married at Clement Baptist Church in Bushy Fork, NC on January 24, 1953. Buck and Evelyn were a wonderful match, him being a man of few words, and her having never met a stranger. They spent a lifetime together and were fortunate enough to celebrate their 67th Wedding Anniversary prior to Buck’s death in 2020.

After completing her degree in Elementary Education at WC, Evelyn became a dedicated teacher in Guilford County, first at Alamance Elementary School before finding her place at Summerfield Elementary School until her retirement in 1991. After touching the lives of her many students, Evelyn made sure that her grandchildren were the center of her attention.

Evelyn enjoyed the summer breaks from school and spent this time helping Buck with his laundromats in the early years, taking her children on adventures, and working in her garden. You can take the girl off the farm, but you cannot take the farm out of the girl.

Evelyn loved her family dearly, and she enjoyed preparing Sunday meals for her children, their spouses, and her eight grandchildren at her and Buck’s home on Briarcliff Road, and later at their town home at Sullivan’s Lake, where Evelyn would find a new group of friends.

Evelyn also enjoyed traveling, reading a good book, and visiting with family and friends, but her greatest pleasures in life came from being a wife, a mom, a grandmother, and even a great-grandmother.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Buck, her brother, George C, Kirby, Jr., and her sister Edna Marshall.

She is survived by her children, James (Jim) Young (Mary) of Greensboro, Kirby Young (Brenda) of Greensboro and Kelli Clark (Jeff) of Summerfield; grandchildren Emilie Young and Annie Young, Bruce Young (Perry), Joe Young (Kristin), Jeane Rhodes (Tyler), Sean Clark (Libby), Collin Clark (Zoe), and Scott Clark; great-grandchildren Kynlee Rhodes and Theo Clark.

A celebration of Evelyn’s life will be held on March 30, 2026, at 2:00pm at the Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel, 515 North Elm Street, Greensboro, with Reverend Steve Watson presiding. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greensboro Public Library Buy-a-Book Program in honor of Evelyn Kirby Young and her commitment to education and her joy of reading. https://greensborolibraryfoundation.org/support/buy_a_book.php or mail donations to The Greensboro Public Library, P.O. Box 3178, Greensboro, NC 27402-3178.