Deacon Yates was born in Tampa, FL to the late Deacon Frank Yates, Sr. and Mary Washington Yates. He received his early education from Mt. Calvary Junior Academy, graduating in 1949. He attended the secondary schools of Hillsborough County and Leon County, Tallahassee, FL. He served in the U S Navy for 10 years and retired after 25 years with the Federal Government. He returned to Tampa in 1998 after residing in California for many years. He served faithfully as a deacon at Mt. Calvary SDA Church until his health declined. He leaves to cherish his memories a devoted 'caretaker' Mrs. Rosebud Stephenson; one son, Frank 'Dwayne' Yates; four stepchildren, Bert, Jeanette, Barbara Ann and Ray Anthony; two brothers, James Yates Sr. of Sacramento, CA, Timothy 'Charles' Yates and wife, Fronie N, of Tampa, FL; sister, Dr. Rose Yates-Lashley and husband, Jack, of Huntsville, AL; sister-in-law, Katherine Summers of Loganville, GA; ten (10) nieces, Charlotta G. Washington of Silver Spring, MD, Sylvia White of Tampa, FL, Mary Nash and husband, Joe, of Chatteroy, Washington, Geraldine Yates and Veronica Anthony of Sacramento, CA, Rose Summers of Toledo, OH, Jaime Avery and husband, Robert, of Loganville, GA, Trudy Gordon of Atlanta, GA, Tracey Shipman and April Everett and husband, Denerio, of Tampa; five nephews, Irvine Gordon, Jr. of Atlanta, GA, James Yates, Jr. and Michael Yates of Los Angeles, CA, Reginald B. Nelson and wife, Scheairneather, and Bobby Nelson all of Tampa; 4 godsisters, Opal Lattimore, Myrtle Walker, Naomi Jones and Ruth Brantley all of Tampa; a host of cousins and other relatives and friends.