William Norman "Bill" Yelverton, Jr.

William “Bill” Yelverton, age 81, of Spartanburg, S.C. passed away peacefully on August 29, 2025 in Spartanburg Regional Hospice House with his wife by his side.

Born February 5, 1944 in Goldsboro, N.C. to William Norman Yelverton and Doris Annette Benton. Bill was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, step-father, step-grandfather and step-great-grandfather. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

He was predeceased by both parents and his sister, Anne Yelverton Bryant.

Bill grew up in Fremont, N.C. and attended Fremont school. He graduated from Oak Ridge Military Institute. He attended N.C. State University (2 years) and is a 1966 graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill with a degree in Psychology. He received a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from Memphis State University.

After working in the clinical field in Memphis, he moved to Spartanburg in 1971. He worked at the Charles Lea Center, Spartan Food Systems, S.C. Department of Corrections and retired from the S.C. Department of Mental Health after 25 years of service.

From childhood to the end of life, Bill was a true outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, canoeing and growing plants from cuttings from all over Spartanburg resulting in the most beautiful yard in his neighborhood, which included over 450 azaleas and 20 camellias. Bill was also an accomplished woodworker making gifts for friends each Christmas that will always be treasured. He loved to produce water color paintings and, especially, loved riding his Harley motorcycle with cousins and friends.

His gentle and quiet manner often caught people off guard with his humor telling stories about his antics in his growing up years in a small town.

He is survived by his wife, Bess Yelverton, his son, David Yelverton (Julie), daughter, Stephanie Westmoreland , Step-children Heather Dotson (Ed), Adam Patterson (Suzy), Grandchildren Ashley Westmoreland, Eva and Kristen Yelverton, and Step-Grandchildren Zack Dotson (Virginia), Luke and Sam Dotson, Danielle and Mady Parr, and one Step-Great-Grandson.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 20307.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Bill to the Disabled American Veterans or Hope Center for Children in Spartanburg, S.C.