Lakeisha Yelverton’s Inspiring Journey from Patient to Nurse
April 16, 2026
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
FAYETTEVILLE – When Lakeisha Yelverton received her acceptance letter into the University of Mount Olive’s nursing program, it felt like life had come full circle. After decades of balancing work, ministry, and family, she finally found herself standing at the threshold of a dream she had carried since childhood.
Born and raised in Warsaw, NC, Yelverton was exposed to the medical field early in life. She and her identical twin sister, Felicia, spent much of their childhood in hospitals after being born prematurely and struggling with chronic asthma. “I vividly remember the nurses who took care of me and never forgot it,” she recalled. Those early experiences planted the seed of a calling that never went away.
Her dream of becoming a nurse first took root in high school, when she earned a Health Technician/CNA certification. But her path forward was far from straightforward. At 17, Yelverton became a teen mother, determined to provide a better future for herself and her son. She worked hard to finish high school, later securing a position at O’Berry Center as a nursing assistant, where she spent eight years. Despite life’s obstacles including divorce, single parenthood, and balancing full-time work, she refused to give up on her dream.
In 2013, Yelverton graduated from Wayne Community College’s Practical Nursing program, passing the NCLEX on her first attempt. She went on to serve patients in long-term care and, eventually, at Womack Army Medical Center on Ft. Bragg, where she still works as a practical nurse. Along the way, she also embraced her calling to ministry, becoming an ordained elder and serving as pastor of Destined For Purpose Apostolic Ministries.
But the pull toward completing her RN never left her. “With nursing still in my heart, I desired to go back,” Yelverton said. In 2024, after learning about UMO’s nursing program from a coworker, she decided to give it one last try. “I said to myself, if I don’t get in this time, I’m done. I won’t apply ever again.” To her surprise and delight, she was accepted into the program on March 1, 2025.
She describes her time at UMO as both supportive and transformative. “Every member I’ve encountered has been genuinely concerned about my success,” she said. She credits her Advisor Mr. C. Griffin for having a profound impact on her experience, calling him “available, interested, and concerned.”
In addition to her studies and ministry, Yelverton remains active in community outreach and has earned numerous honors, including the Florence Nightingale “I Care” Award, the Defense Health Agency Team Excellence Award, and the 2022 ACHI Magazine “Woman of Inspiration Award.”
Looking ahead, Yelverton plans to specialize in mental health nursing, an area she feels deeply called to after her years working at O’Berry Center. “Compassionate care that transforms lives is what I’m taking with me as I go through this program and into the next level of healthcare,” she said. She also hopes to one day continue her education to the practitioner level.
Through it all, she is quick to acknowledge her support system, especially her husband, Ivory. “He has been my greatest supporter and biggest cheerleader,” she said. “He took care of home and gave me the time I needed to pursue my education without complaint.”
Yelverton’s story reflects years of persistence and a deep calling to serve, a message she now shares with others who may feel discouraged in their own journeys. “Never give up, don’t give in, and don’t give out,” she advised. “It’s never too late to achieve your heart’s desire or complete your goals in life. If I can do it over the course of time, so can you!”
As she continues her studies at UMO, Yelverton remains excited about the road ahead. “I feel a connection to this school, and I know in my heart that I will succeed in this program,” she said. “It will usher in more success in my career and in life as a whole.”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
