The Honorable Yolanda Wyche Stokes

The Honorable Yolanda Wyche Stokes (November 21, 1961 – December 23, 2025)
We celebrate the life and legacy of the Honorable Yolanda Wyche Stokes, who departed this life on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, in Hopewell, Virginia
Yolanda was born on November 21, 1961, in Richmond, Virginia, and the third of seven children to the late Jesse Benjamin Wyche and the late Gloria Jean Glover. She was a proud graduate of Prince George High School – Class of 1980 and continued her education at Virginia State University (VSU), where she studied Business Administration. While at VSU, she was a member of the VSU Gospel Chorale and the renowned Marching Trojan Explosion. Her love for learning and justice later led her to earn a Paralegal Certificate and she helped many people with legal matters over the years.
Yolanda accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Morning Star Baptist Church. Her faith guided her throughout her life, and she joyfully attended, supported, and served in many local churches.
Family was at the heart of Yolanda's life. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother to her son, Xavier Stokes, and embraced Paul Goode as her stepson. She was also a cherished sister and a proud aunt to many.
Yolanda dedicated decades of her life to public service and strived to promote fairness, create opportunities, and uplift her community. Her distinguished career included service as a Resident Manager of local apartment complexes, roles with the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, where she served as Deputy Director, as well as work with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Petersburg Social Services, and as a School Bus Driver for the County of Prince George and City of Hopewell.
Her dedication to civic duty continued through her leadership as Director of the Hopewell Electoral Board, Hopewell City General Registrar, and ultimately as City of Hopewell Ward 6 Councilwoman. She worked tirelessly for her community, advocating for all voices, especially those often unheard, so that they were seen, respected, and represented.
Music was one of Yolanda's greatest joys, and she shared her gifts as a singer, pianist, and choir director. Her musical affiliations include the Petersburg Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inspirations of Tabernacle, Youth Gospel Singers of McKenney Virginia, Sam Lewis and the Mission Choir, Bert Boisseau and the Unity Gospel Ensemble, Co-Founder of the Voices of Elite, and many local churches. Her voice and praise touched everyone who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse B. Wyche and Gloria Jean Glover; her siblings, Ricky B. "Block" Wyche and Penelope "Penny" Wyche; and her husband, Paul L. Stokes.
Yolanda is lovingly remembered by her son, Xavier Stokes; siblings, Jesse A. "Tony" Wyche (Maxine), Marilyn R. Wyche, Gloria P. Parker (Maywood "Tim", deceased), Tammy S. Wyche, Justine Newton ("Joe"), Terry "Q" Jones, DeSharri "Lynn" Perry, and Tametra "Meka" Perry; one aunt, Ernestine Marsh; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family, and devoted friends, including former Councilwoman and Mayor Brenda Pelham, former Virginia State Senator Joe Morrissey, Sharon Reaves, and David Silvestro.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1pm, Saturday, January 10, 2026 in the Hopewell High School Auditorium, 400 S. Mesa Drive, Hopewell. VA. Interment will follow in Mt. Sinai Community Cemetery, Prince George, VA. Public visitation will be held from 10am-8pm, Friday, January 9th, and a wake will be held from 7-8pm, that same evening at the Petersburg chapel of Bland Funeral Home, 137 Harrison Street, Petersburg, VA.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Petersburg Chapel of Bland Funeral Homes, 137 Harrison St., 804.732.7841. www.blandfuneralhomes.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of The Honorable Yolanda, please visit our floral store. If you would like to make a donation in memory of The Honorable Yolanda Wyche Stokes, please visit the Tribute Fund.