Jerry Lee Yates, Sr., 63 of Lake City, passed away on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at the Lake City Medical Center.  He was born in Palatka, Florida to the late Rev. Robert Lee Yates and Joyce Benton Yates.  Mr. Yates was raised in Lake City and was a graduate of Columbia High School class of 1975.  He retired in 2018 from the Florida Department of Corrections with 25 years of service and was currently working with the Columbia County School Board as a bus driver.  Mr. Yates was a member of the Evangel Church of God in Lake City.  He loved playing softball and did for many years, bowling, fishing with his grandchildren and spending time with his family and siblings.

Survivors include his wife, Lora Mae Yates; his children, Jerry Lee Yates, Jr. (Jessica), Jennifer Taylor (Daniel), TC Harper (Stephanie), Jeremy Yates and Mariel Yates, all of Lake City; two brothers including his twin, Larry Robert Yates (Sherry) and Timothy Paul Yates (Jannie) all of Lake City; two sisters, Patty Yates Murray (George), Orlando and Denise VandeVoren, Lake City; his mother-in-law, Mariell D. Smith, Lake City;  and eighteen grandchildren, Harlee, Damien, Thomas, Darren, Desean, Callie, Clay, Hannah, Owen, Landon, Ian, Presley, Karter, Peyton, Joslyn, Amiyah, Jada and Daesia also survive.

Funeral services for Mr. Yates will be conducted on Monday, July 26, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Evangel Church of God in Lake City with Pastor Rick Holmes and Pastor Larry McDaniels officiating.  Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.  Visitation with the family will be Sunday afternoon from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the funeral home.