Yalanda Denise Harper, 1966-2020

“Lan,” as she was affectionately called by family and friends, was born May 17, 1966, in Youngstown, the daughter of the late Laharda Harper and Raleigh Rupert.

Yalanda graduated from South High in 1984 and Youngstown State University, with a bachelor’s degree in business, in 1994. She was employed by Navy Federal Credit Union, where she worked for more than 19 years as a branch manager, until her death.

Yalanda loved life and lived it to the fullest. She enjoyed travel, dancing, concerts, plays and spending time with family and friends. She was a member of Union Baptist Church in Virginia Beach and a former member of Church of Hope, under the pastorate of Robert and Willa Mae Lockett. Yalanda was a diehard fan of the Cleveland Browns and the Cleveland Cavaliers. She made a huge positive impact on everyone she met.

Yalanda leaves cherished memories to her father, Raleigh “Ronnie” (Robin) Rupert of Youngstown; her aunt, Paulette (Eddie) Gardner of Michigan; her loving niece, Candis Harper of Virginia; her sister/cousin, Yvette (Stefan) Christopher of Lakewood, Calif.; her aunt, Doreen Harper (Tom) McCarthy of Youngstown; sister, Danielle Hayden of Brooklyn, N.Y.; brother, Ramon Rupert of Brooklyn, N.Y.; aunt, Blythe Floyd of The Bronx, N.Y.; her uncles, Robert (Artielia) Bowens Sr. of Youngstown, Vincent (Barbara) Harper of Youngstown, Dwain (Mary) Harper of Suffolk, Va., and Henry (Cheryl) Harper, George Lamont Harper and Kenny (Betty) Bowens, all of Youngstown, Randy (Wanda) Brown of the Bronx, N.Y.; her best friends, Lisa Kibble of Washington, D.C. and Angela Rheins of Virginia; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Besides her mother, she was preceded in death by grandparents, Mr. Henry Harper and Thelma Brown, and Mr. and Mrs. James Rupert; her aunt, Karen Harper; and cousin, Latosha Harper.

Home going services will be held 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at L.E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home, 1951 McGuffey Road, Youngstown.

Friends may visit noon to 4 p.m. Sunday and 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

(special notice)