Tracy Yelverton, III, was born on May 10, 1991, in Goldsboro, North Carolina to Stephanie Bennett Royal and Tracy Yelverton, Sr.  On March 8, 2022, in humble submission to God's perfect will, with peace in his heart, God stretched forth His almighty hand and Tracy slipped away into that sweet ‘by and by’.

When Tracy’s family relocated to Washington, DC, he attended DC Public Schools and graduated from Ballou Senior High School in 2009.  After graduation, Tracy attended Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he received his Bachelors of Science in Physical Education in 2014.

When he returned home from college, he began his career in education in the Campagna Center Head Start Program in Alexandria, Virginia.  He worked for multiple school systems all while coaching the track team of his alma mater Ballou SHS.

In May 2018, Tracy answered the call to serve his country and joined the United States Army.  Upon graduation, he became a Chaplain's Assistant before transitioning to Supply and Logistics after obtaining the rank of Sargent.

While Tracy loved sports, who would have known through his love for sports that he would meet the love of his life.  Thanks to track and field, Tracy had an opportunity to meet a fellow athlete (Courtney Bell) who later became his bride.  On April 16, 2018, Tracy and Courtney joined together in holy matrimony and of this union two sons were born, Brycen and Brayden.

Tracy was a renaissance man that was good at just about everything he did. He had a heart for people from his students to the children he coached, and even his fraternal brothers from Alpha Phi Alpha.  Tracy was unapologetically proud of his blackness and the progression of black people.  However, all of these things came second to his love for his family, whom he adored tremendously.

Tracy gave his life to Christ in June 2005 at New Image Community Baptist Church where he was baptized under the leadership of the late Pastor Donald M. Garner.  He was a member of the Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, and sang with Christ Child.

Tracy leaves to cherish his memory, a devoted wife Courtney; two sons, Brycen and Brayden; parents, Thomas and Stephanie Royal; biological father Tracy Yelverton, Sr. (Ashley); six siblings, Keyonna Bennett, Terry Bennett, Natesia Turner (Carlos), André Robison, Nigeria Yelverton, and Thomas Royal, Jr; grandmother, Katherline “Ma K” Spruill (Zeb); uncles, Michael Bennett (Lea), Sean Bennett, Larry Best, Michael Best, and McKinzey Best; aunts, Tammy Moore (Earnest), Rowshell Wallace, and Alma Wooten; two nieces, Janyia and Nia; four nephews, Mekka, Israel, Nas and Zoel; mother-in-law Stacey Williams; father-in-law, Kevin Bell (Monica); two loyal friends, Lawrence West and Bryon Johnson; and a host of other family members, in-laws, and friends.

Tracy is preceded in death by three grandparents Eugene and Bertha Bennett, and Annie Hicks; and one brother Tracy Yelverton, Jr.