During 2021 Black History Month with the Theme for this year The Black Family, we are featuring Black families who reside in Winston County or some who have roots in the county Readers will see the representation, identity and diversity of these black families. This week the Yarbrough Family is featured.
This family consists of nine children with parents being the late Elbert Lee Yarbrough and Lugusta Yarbrough. The father, Elbert Yarbrough died in February 1994 after a long battle with cancer. The mother, Lugusta practically raised the 9 children, 5 girls and 4 boys as a single parent. She now has 17 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Ironically, she was energetic enough to get all of her children out of high school and most of them attended college. Lugusta had some help in the rearing of her children from her now deceased mother, Eldora Miller who was featured in the WCJ on March 16, 2016 at 104 years old who later passed in August 2016. Lugusta graduated from Louisville Colored High School with the Class of 1964 when Principal L. C. Eiland was there.
As a single parent (after the death of her husband) with 9 children, her classmates honored her for raising such high achieving children at one of their Class of 1964 Reunions. Below are her children and their achievements:
Edward Earl graduated from Louisville High School in 1983. He died after a long battle with Kidney Disease November 1994.
Marionette Yarbrough graduated from Texas Woman's University with a B.S and M.S. in Physical Therapy 1992 and Doctor of Physical Therapy from University of Mississippi 2007. She lives in Grenada, MS and was the Director of Rehab for University of Mississippi Medical Center, Grenada. She presently works as a Physical Therapist in Winona, MS.
Dora Yarbrough Howard graduated from Mississippi State University with a B.S. from School of Education 1992 and a Masters of Educational Leadership/Administration from George Mason University Fairfax, VA 2004. Dora lives in Herndon, VA and has worked as a Teacher, Special Education Department Supervisor and as an Assistant Principal with Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, VA.
Tyrone Yarbrough and James Yarbrough both graduated from Universal Technical Institute with Associate's in Auto/ Diesel Technology, Houston, Texas 1991. James lives in Louisville, MS and works at Tyson’s Chicken Cooperation, Carthage, MS.
Tyrone Yarbrough also graduated from Houston Community College with Associates in Computer Technology 1998 and graduated from University of Houston with B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology 2001. Tyrone lives in Manvel, TX and works as a Piping Design Engineer at Kinder Morgan Cooperation, Houston, TX.
Natalie Yarbrough Hickman graduated from Mississippi State University with B.S. in General Sciences 2003 and graduated from University of Mississippi with Teaching Licensure Endorsement 2013. Natalie is currently attending the University of Arkansas to pursue a Masters of Education. Natalie lives in Louisville, MS and works as a Special Education Teacher, Louisville, MS. On February 8, 2021, Natalie was recognized as Parent of the Year at Eiland Middle School at the Louisville Municipal School District Board of Trustees.
Timothy Yarbrough graduated from Louisville High School 1999. Timothy lives in Macon, MS and works at Georgia Pacific Cooperation in Louisville, MS.
Kristan Yarbrough Lee graduated from Mississippi State University with B.S. Accountancy 2005. Kristan lives in Beaverton, Oregon and works as an accountant at Tualatin Valley Water District, Beaverton, OR. She is also a certified governmental auditor and a certified doula.
Latoya Yarbrough House graduated from Meridian Community College with an Associate of Applied Sciences in Radiologic Technology, and an Associate of Arts 2008. Latoya also graduated from University of South Alabama with B.S. in Radiologic Sciences concentration in CT and MRI 2010. Latoya lives in Mobile, AL and works as a radiological technician at Mobile Open MRI & Imaging Center in Mobile AL.
Lugusta is grateful for the hard work of her children to become educated and have good careers. She is grateful for the Louisville school system for giving them the education and discipline they needed to complete their higher education goals. She is also grateful for the Greensboro village that helped her with guidance as a single parent to raise her children.
