Yolanda Barry

Yolanda Barbara Barry

Yolanda Barbara Barry, 74, of Cleveland, Ohio, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025, at 6:45 a.m. in New Smyrna Beach, FL.

Yolanda was born on February 21, 1951 in Cleveland, Ohio to Pearl Lee and John David Barry in Cleveland, Ohio.  She loved and adored her older “Sissy” Clarissa (Cris) Caver.  

 Yolanda was known for so many attributes, including being family-minded, she would do anything for her family, she was dedicated, loyal, kind, truthful, honest, detail-oriented, and resourceful. 

Yolanda attended Miles Standish Elementary School (Cleveland, Ohio), Empire Jr. High School (Cleveland, Ohio), and went to Audubon Jr. High and Susan Miller Dorsey High Schools after moving to Los Angeles with her Aunt Lydia, Uncle Nick, and sister-cousin Gloria Jean. She then returned home to Cleveland, Ohio where she decided to attend Barnard College in New York.  There she attained a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s in Education.

Yolanda was highly intelligent; she worked for the Cleveland Board of Education where she served on the board and designed setting up the first Montessori School in Cleveland, Ohio, under Mayor Michael White.  Then, she worked at United Airlines in Human Resources hiring Pilots and Flight Attendants.  Then, she decided to become a Flight Attendant with routes that spanned the world. In particular, Yolanda flew United Airline routes to Japan, France, Spain, and spoke fluent Japanese, French, and Spanish, and a little bit of Russian.

Yolanda met her life partner and fiancé’, Emmanuel (Manny) Tesfaye in April 2002.  They were together for 23 years, living in North Carolina and one block from the beach in New Smyrna Beach, FL.  Manny and Yolonda spent many days walking along the beach and visiting Manny’s family in Washington, D.C.

Yolanda is survived by her fiancé, Emmanuel Tesfaye, her sister Clarissa Caver of Schaumburg, IL, and her aunts, Lydia V. Nicholson of Calabasas Hills, CA, Altha Mae Harris of Frisco, TX, her Uncle Ruben W. Hill of Cleveland, OH, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends.

A graveside service will be held at Highland Park Cemetery on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.  A funeral procession from Gaines Funeral Home to the cemetery will occur prior to the service.

Highland Park Cemetery

21400 Chagrin Boulevard

Highland Hills, OH 44122

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