Bradley "Brad" Yandell

Mr. Bradley “Brad” Kent Yandell, 56, of Clemmons, NC, was born January 29, 1965, to Donald and Marie Yandell in Bloomington, Indiana.  He was the youngest of six children.  Brad grew up in Peoria, Illinois and attended Peoria High School for 2 years. Brad moved to Greensboro with his mom and dad in spring of 1981 and graduated from Page High School in Greensboro in 1983.

Brad had always known that his life goal was to serve as a Police Officer from an early age. With this in mind, Brad enlisted in the Air Force in 1983 and served as Security Police 42nd SPS at Loring AFB Maine for 4 years.  While serving in the Air Force, Brad married and started a family, and moved them back to Greensboro, NC in 1988.

In 1989, Brad fulfilled his lifelong goal of becoming a police officer with the Winston Salem Police Department.  He rose through the ranks of the police department to the rank of Lieutenant and served in various assignments, mostly focused on Patrol. Brad worked rotating shifts on Patrol while studying and receiving his Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Western Carolina University.  Over the years, Brad trained numerous young officers, and was always an advocate for doing the right thing.  He had a way of making sure his opinion and situation assessment were heard loud and clear.  Brad served the community and the Winston-Salem Police Department for 27 years and retired in 2015.

During his 7 years of his retirement, Brad enjoyed golfing, cooking for his family and friends, watching the Food Network, riding his electric bike, bowling, being with his family and traveling in his motor home with his best friend and wife of 25 years, Carla (Snincsak) Yandell. Brad was a patriot who cared deeply for the future of our country and for all military and police officers currently serving our community and country.

Brad passed away on January 24, 2022, at UNC Chapel Hill Cardiac ICU after a very brief and unexpected illness. Brad was preceded in death by his father, Donald Yandell from ALS in 2006.  He preceded his mother’s (Marie Yandell) passing by one day (January 25, 2022).  Brad is survived by his wife and best friend, Carla (Snincsak) Yandell; his children, Stephanie Ware (Brandon), Nicholas, and Erin; one grandson, Corbin; his siblings, Steve Yandell (Debi), Greg Yandell (Barbara), Kevin Yandell (Cindy), Jeff Yandell (Amanda), Kristi Green (Eddie); and his nephews and nieces, Scott, Corey, Jacob, Lindsay, Kelsey, Alinga and Annalisa.

A service to celebrate Brad’s life will be held at Pinedale Christian Church on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at 2:30 pm.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:15 pm prior to the service at the church.

Brad will be greatly missed and remembered for his huge personality, his love and caring for his family, his love of the beach, The Doors, and cooking for his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the ALS Association, NC Chapter, 4 N. Blount St., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27601; als.org/north-carolina.  Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is serving the family of Mr. Yandell.