Leonard Yeargan

1944 - 2025

Leonard Yeargan

October 7, 1944 - September 23, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina - Leonard Wayne Yeargan passed into Heaven at his home in Raleigh, after a hard-fought battle against cancer. He was the first-born child of Dorothy Edwards Yeargan and John Leonard Yeargan of Durham.

Wayne attended public schools in Durham County and graduated from Northern High School in 1962. He was the student body president during his senior year. But, he always declared that his most joyous times in high school were his days playing football. That team was tight-knit and remain close in "heart and hearth." After his playing days, Wayne attended NC State University and had to, in his words, "buckle down." He received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering in 1966.

Upon graduation, Wayne worked at Celanese Fibers in Rock Hill, SC where they fabricated parachute material. Then he decided it was time to return to the Tar Heel State. For the next 14 years he drove his Oldsmobile 20,000 miles a year up and down the US east coast marketing, testing and selling chemicals to pulp and paper companies. In 1982 he decided his new wife needed him to be home more. Thus, he got his real estate brokers license and multiple professional designations and began selling and buying commercial real estate. His business thrived based on his strong, engrained work ethic taught by his mother and father. He worked until a few weeks before his death.

Wayne is predeceased by his parents and his brother, Warren Edward Yeargan. He is survived by his wife, Melody Batten Yeargan; his daughter, Michelle Yeargan Cole; granddaughter, Brianna Cole Brown, her husband, Austin; great-grandson, Luke; his sister-in-law, Colette Batten Teachey; his brother-in-law, David L. Batten and wife, Marie. Also surviving him is his Uncle Felton Yeargan who sings gospel music. Wayne's father, Leonard, also sang in a gospel quartet. Thus, Wayne acquired a love for the music and knew the words to many of the songs he had heard so frequently. Uncle Wayne had many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews who he loved.

Wayne was a member of the Wolfpack Club for more than 50 years, and along with his Carolina graduate wife, attended football and basketball games until the COVID years. All went well until the State-Carolina games! He was also an active member of the Optimist Club of Raleigh where he served as president and board member. He loved working with his Optimist friends to raise money to provide support for young people.

Family and friends were always important to Wayne. He enjoyed entertaining at home and having guests at the beach house, and he always wanted to pick up the tab after a good meal.

Wayne supported many charities, including Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina, Boys and Girls Clubs of North Carolina, Wake County SPCA and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Melody and her family wish to send appreciation to Wayne's many "pals" who took him to lunch or dinner or drove him around town looking at properties or searching for a Dairy Queen, taking him to Snoopy's on BOGO hot dog day, and driving him to Optimist Club. We are also grateful to our much-loved Bobbie Furr Sunday School class members for their prayers, love and support through Wayne's illness and to the Trinity Baptist Church ministers and deacons who visited us during hospital stays and cared for us in so many ways. Many thanks to our dear family, friends and neighbors for checking on us and helping in so many ways. We especially want to thank Dr. Alan Kritz and his wonderful staff at UNC-Rex Cancer Center for providing the best medical care and support. And lastly, our home care folks from Heartland Hospice who gave us special care and great hugs.

A celebration of Wayne's life will be held on Thursday October 2, at Trinity Baptist Church, 4815 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, as family and friends gather to honor a life well-lived and the memories that endure. Visitation with the family will begin at 1 pm and the service will begin at 2 pm.