Charlie L. Yates

Norfolk – Charlie Lee Yates, 74, passed away after a long battle with Leukemia on August 11, 2010. He was born on April 8, 1936 to the late Charlie Clarence and Agnes Sharp Yates in Harrellsville, NC. After graduating from Booker T. High School in Norfolk, VA, he attended VPI and was the first Black to graduate with honors. In 1958, he became the first African American to graduate from Virginia Tech. Yates earned master’s and Ph.D. degrees and worked for the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory from 1960-1979 as the lab’s first black professional. He returned to his alma mater as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, leaving in 1983 to teach for four years in colleges in eastern Virginia. But he maintained contact with Virginia Tech by serving on the board of visitors. He returned to the school in 1987 as an associate professor of aerospace and ocean engineering, remaining until his retirement in 2000, when he was named professor emeritus. He was a member of the Hampton Roads Church since April 23, 2003. Charlie is survived by his caring wife, B. Percilla Logan Yates; daughters; Linda Worsley of Richmond, VA, Michelle Davis (Darrell) of Fairfax, VA, and Tracy Conyers (Brian) of Elksridge, MD; step-daughter, Raina Greene (Bernard) of Richmond, VA; sons, Adrien (Jaenice) of Tacoma, WA and Christopher (Gwendolyn) of Ellicott City, MD;8 granddaughters; 2 grandsons.; 6 great-grandchildren; brother, Thomas B. Yates (Edna); sisters, Bernice Hill (Nat) and Myrtle Yates of Virginia Beach; one uncle, James B. Sharp (Laura); and numerous relatives, classmates and acquaintances. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, August 16, 2010 at Rosewood Kellum Funeral Home, burial will follow at Rosewood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 pm on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia Society of America or Charlie Yates Scholarship Fund at Virginia Tech. You may offer condolences to the family at www.kellumfuneralhome.com.