Otis Yearby Jr.

At the age of 21 while living in Chicago. He enlisted to serve in The United States Army in 1968. He fought in the Vietnam War until 1970 earning him The National Defense Service Medal, The Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars and The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Otis Jr. then came home and married his fiancé, Gloria Stroyier on April 6, 1970. He was employed at the VA Lakeside Hospital for 21 years earning awards for his display of high-quality results in environmental services.

Travel was a passion of his. Otis would often drive home to Georgia without any hesitation to see cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.

Otis Jr. also had another passion that meant a lot to him, which was his AA (Alcoholic Anonymous) Meetings where he maintained 18 years of sobriety. He would give his testimony and could quote the twelve steps and twelve traditions from memory.

Otis Jr. was preceded in death by his mother, Vernell (Mathis); brothers, Jerome, Gregory and Sherman; sister Linda (James) Hughes.

Otis Jr. passed away peacefully in the Jesse Brown VA Hospital on February 1, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 77, surrounded by his “loved ones”.

He leaves to cherish and celebrate his memory, and be loved forever by his wife Gloria; daughters, Corie Kimbrough, Kimberly (Ernest) Woodfork, Stephanie, son Otis III; grandchildren; Jessica (Coleman) Lucas, Karen (Prince) Hodges, Rosilynn, Demetrius, Zoe, Katherine; great-grands, Nevada, MaKenzie (who was his shadow); father Otis Sr. (Thelma); sisters Betty Jean (Louis) Walker, Rochelle, aunts, uncles and cousins along with a host of nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.