Mary Yates

Daughter of the late Howard Henry Hill and Luna Belle Johnson Hill, she was born June 30, 1927 in Zama, Mississippi. She was preceded in death by her husband Huland (Gus) Yates. She was also preceded in death by her sister Vonceile Thornton and brother James Hill.

Mary was a graduate of Red Bay High School in Red Bay, Alabama. She attended Alverson Business College in Birmingham, Alabama, where she studied bookkeeping. After graduation she worked for Hayes Aircraft where she met her husband of 46 years, Gus Yates.

Mary was a stay-at-home mother for many years. She returned to the workplace in 1970 spending 20 years in the accounting department of Alabama Power Company. She and Gus were members of First Baptist Church of Birmingham for a few years but Mary spent most of her life as an active member of McElwain Baptist Church.

She was a devoted mother and a wonderful “Granny.” Mary is survived by her only child Kathryn Ann Yates Girardeau (Bob) of Birmingham; grandson Jackson Yates Girardeau (Kaitlin) of New Orleans; granddaughter Merrill Lee Girardeau of Birmingham; and great grandson Julian Martin Girardeau of New Orleans.

Special thanks to the caregivers that were so important to “Miss Mary” in her last years: Pat Brewster, Chloe Young, Renee Edwards, and Arnelia Pauline.

Visitation will be Monday, November 11 at 10:0 A.M. at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Birmingham followed by the funeral service at 11:00 A.M.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Covenant Presbyterian Church (covpres.com) or the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (giving.billygraham.org)