Alexander Curry Yates, 1932 – 2006

"All you need to do is love each other as God loves you." This is the gospel according to "Yukkie," the Rev. Alexander Curry "Yukkie" Yates, who on March 31, 2006, was welcomed by his Heavenly Father whom he had loved and served so diligently.

He was born Alexander Curry in Newport News, Va., on Aug. 12, 1932, and died at Dominion Village of Williamsburg on March 31, 2006.

Orphaned at a very young age, Yukkie and his brother Bobby were blessed to become a part of the special family of Jeannette Jackson Beazley and Joseph Ashton Yates. Yukkie graduated from Charles City High School in 1949 and attended Ferrum Junior College, Randolph-Macon College, and many more, including Duke Divinity School, on his journey into the United Methodist ministry, in which he served for 35 years.

On June 11, 1955, Yukkie married Elva Anne Berry and became part of another big, loving family. His love became manifested in his children and grandchildren; daughter, Anne Curry Yates Rice, wife of Craig Sheldon Rice and mother of Stephanie Lynn and Melissa Diane of Escondido, Cal.; and his son and best friend, Alexander Curry Yates II, husband of Marjorie Carver and father of Charlotte Alexandra Leslie Miranda and Levon Curry of Charles City.

In his lifetime, Yukkie touched the lives of many people as he served in the Air Force for three years during the Korean conflict, as a technician at Reynolds Metals, for the Navy at Naval Weapons Station, and managed Jerrald’s Truck Stop while attending Randolph-Macon College. In 1957, Yukkie became principal of Samaria Indian School where he proudly helped to educate the first graduating class of the Chickahominy Indians of Charles City and New Kent.

In 1960, Rev. Yates entered the active Methodist ministry serving the Otter Charge. He also served Brookneal, Brucetown, Gum Spring, Vale-Floris, St. James and retired from Norview in 1995. From 1965-1968, Yukkie was president of the board of directors of the Virginia Symphony. He volunteered as chaplain for Fairfax and Alexandria Hospitals, Fairfax Police Headquarters and the Hermitage of Northern Virginia. Rev. Yates served on many Methodist boards and agencies and was very active with the Ruritans in many areas of Virginia. He was honored with a Jefferson Cup when he gave the invocation for the state Senate in 1985.

Yukkie was laid to rest at Micah Cemetery in Charles City beside his loving family, after a memorial service at Charles City Memorial United Methodist Church.

— Elva B. Yates