Rebecca Ella Yarbrough, 69, of Five Points, Alabama, ended her shift on Jan. 17, 2023. A longtime resident of Opelika, she was a well-known waitress at Opelika’s Waffle House for the past 20 years. Her early 37 years were as a weaver for West Point Pepperell until the mill closed. But more recently, “Waffle Mama,” as she was affectionately called, loved to converse with total strangers. A zest for life, love of family, her enthusiasm and gift of conversation endeared her to every person she met. She never met a stranger; made everyone a friend. She was a true “Steel Magnolia,” always smiling, lively, dependable — yet faced adversity with an unshakable resolve. One of six Cooper Girls growing up in Pepperell Mill Village in the ‘60s, they shared a very close bonding, traveling as a group and meeting monthly for a sisters-only luncheon. Truly a unique, lifelong bond of a very special group of women.
Married for 35 years to Steve Yarbrough of Little Texas, Alabama. Together, they have seen the mountains-to-the-sea in so many varied and memorial ways. Gatlinburg, Panama City, Orlando and Key West were regular special destinations. She leaves her three children: Johnathan, Christy and Kyle (Tammy), as a testament to her legacy of hard work, honesty and integrity.
Rebecca was the daughter of Claud P. Cooper Jr. & Willadean Cooper. She is survived by sisters Teresa (David) Edwards, Connie (Dean) Berry, Claudia (Jeff) Gunter, Pamela (Greg) Coltrane and Melinda (Jessie) Sanders. She has five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home with the Rev. Earl Ballard officiating. Burial followed in Garden Hills Cemetery.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.