Thomas Elijah Yates, III, 70, passed away Sunday, Mar. 1, 2015. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Mar. 4th, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at Northminster Baptist Church, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm. Burial will be at Lakewood Memorial Park.
Tommy was born Aug. 22, 1944 to Thomas E. Yates, Jr., and Susie Ellen Knowlton Yates. He graduated from Murrah High School, and then attended the University of Mississippi. Upon his father's death, Tommy took over his father's insurance agency, Thomas Yates & Company, at the age of 21. After retirement from the insurance business, he served Rankin County as Election Commissioner. He also served on the Rankin County Republican Executive Committee. For many years, he was actively involved in Alcoholics Anonymous.
Tommy is survived by two daughters, Lee Ann Yates and Rida (Gary) Lanneau, and two grandchildren, Sawyer and Garrett Lanneau, all of Atlanta, GA, two sisters, Lina Elfert of Greenwood, MS and Mary Elizabeth Yates of Brandon, MS, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Marcia Davis.
Pallbearers will be Thomas Elfert, Roger Elfert, Drew Davis, Max Yates, Bo Bourne and Davis Bourne. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bob Boteler, John Bryan, Cecil Burnham and Lamar Maxwell.
