Obit rom the Lynchburg News of 4 January 1931, p.9 c.1 -
"Capt. R.D. Yancey Succumb [sic] To Attack Of Angina Pectoris. Served 33 Years As Commonwealth's Attorney For Lynchburg; Dies At Home Here. Robert Davis Yancey, commonwealth attorney for Lynchburg for 33 years, descendant of pioneer families of this section of Virginia died yesterday at 12:30 o'clock at his home, 102 Grace street, after a few hours illness from angina pectoris. The funeral will be held Monday morning at 11 o'clock at the home, with interment in the family lot at Presbyterian Cemetery.
"'Cap'n Bob', as Mr Yancey was known to the vast majority of Lynchburg persons, had been in his usual health, and was on the streets and in his office Friday. It was not known that he had heart trouble, and his death came as a great shock to family and friends.
"Born in the house in which he had lived his entire life and in the very room in which his body lies awaiting the last rites, Mr Yancey was 75 years old, having been born September 15, 1855. His parents were the late William Tudor Yancey native of Bedford county and his wife, Lucy Elizabeth Davis, daughter of Henry Davis, to whom that section of Lynchburg in which the Yancey home is located originally belonged and by whom the house was given to Mrs Yancey as a wedding gift.
"Mr Yancey was educated in private schools in Lynchburg and was graduated from Virginia Military Institute in the class of 1875. He studied law at the University of Virginia, receiving his law degree there, and read later in the office of the late Senator John W. Daniel, starting then a strong friendship which lasted until Senator Daniel's death.
"Elected Mayor In 1891
"Elected mayor in 1891, Mr Yancey served one term and then was elected commonwealth's attorney in 1894, a position he held thereafter with the exception of three years, including last year. He took active interest in the military companies of Lynchburg and was commanding officer of the Light Artillery Blues when that company was called to Pocahontas to settle the strike which menaced that section in the early nineties. He served also as captain of the Home Guard, and was colonel on the staff of Governor Fitzhugh lee during his term of office.
"Mr Yancey was, for sometime after his graduate [sic] from Virginia Military Institute, interested in newspaper work and was associated with the democratic campaign conducted by page McCarty in opposition to the readjuster party doing newspaper work both in Washington and Richmond.
"Member of the Bar Association, St Paul's Episcopal Church, Marshall Lodge of Masons, Red Cross Council 134, Junior Order United American Mechanics; Elks Club; Lynchburg Lodge of Odd Fellows; and lately made honorary member for life of DeMolay Commandery, Knights Templar, of which he had been a member for many years, Mr Yancey served at one time as grand commander of the Virginia Lodge of Odd Fellows.
"He was married November 17, 1892, to Miss Rosa Faulkner, daughter of Mr and Mrs J.W. Faulkner, another prominent Lynchburg family, and she survives him together with the following children: Robert D Yancey, Jr, Ocala, Florida; Lieutenant William Joel Yancey, who sailed December 2 for his new post in Panama; Mrs John Bell Williams, Richmond; and Misses Mary and Caroline Yancey and Henry Yancey, all of Lynchburg. He leaves also six grandchildren, among them Robert M Abernathy, son of the late Mrs Elizabeth Yancey Abernathy, who died a year ago last October, the second child that Mr and Mrs Yancey lost, one having died in infancy."
