Yates dies at 37 after battling leukemia

By Carrie A. Mizell

A long and courageous fight came to an end Saturday night as DeWayne Yates lost his battle with leukemia.
Yates, 37, was in the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, where he had been receiving treatments for several months when he passed away, with his wife Marsha by his side.
A Perry, Fla. native, DeWayne moved to Trenton with his parents, Paul and Patricia “Pat” Yates, and sister, Dana, when he was just 9-years-old.
DeWayne attended school in Trenton, where he was actively involved in FFA. He also lifted weights and played football for the fighting Tigers under the direction of Coach Tommy Malloy and Coach John Vickers.
“DeWayne was a smart, well-mannered kid who worked hard and wanted to be part of a team…he was easy to coach,” recalls John Vickers. “DeWayne is one of mine and Coach Malloy’s kids and he always will be.”
DeWayne graduated from Trenton High School in 1990 and attended college at the University of Florida, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
After DeWayne became C.E.O. of the Family Medical and Dental Centers and Trenton Medical Center, Inc., Vickers worked one-on-one with his former player again.
“When I served on the medical board, I worked closely with DeWayne and I saw just how smart and well-organized he was,” Vickers said. “He was very successful, but of course, we always knew he would be.”
DeWayne’s longtime friend Scott Guthrie said that professionally, DeWayne had more vision than even he could fathom. After being hired as finance officer at Trenton Medical Center in 1998, Guthrie said it took DeWayne about six months to get comfortable with what went on, but once he did there was no stopping his vision and compassion for the people of this community.
In January 2001, Guthrie left Trenton Medical Center and DeWayne took over his position as C.E.O. after having worked two and a half years as finance officer.
“I had so much peace about leaving because I knew that DeWayne would just take it and run,” Guthrie said. “He had so many ideas.”
Guthrie said DeWayne’s vision directly led to Trenton Medical Center flourishing as it opened medical centers throughout north central Florida.
Above and beyond their professional relationship, Guthrie said DeWayne was “the truest friend you could ever have.”
Not only was DeWayne successful at Trenton Medical Center, he was also an active fixture in the community. He served as president of the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce in 1998 and 2000 and was named Citizen of the Year in 2002. He was also a past president of the Trenton Rotary Club. DeWayne was on the board of directors with the Gilchrist County Democratic Executive Committee and past chairman of the Salvation Army. He was also a co-founder of the Gilchrist Gleaners, Inc. A member of First Baptist Church of Trenton, DeWayne was involved in numerous other civic organizations.
Despite his busy schedule, DeWayne’s first priority was always his family: his wife, Marsha, and their four children, Parker, Claira, Owen and Emma. In lieu of flowers, the Yates family is asking that donations be made to a scholarship fund that has been established for the children at both Ameris Bank and Drummond Community Bank.
Funeral services for DeWayne will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday at First Baptist Church of Trenton. DeWayne’s longtime pastor, Bro. Rick Lawrence, will be officiating. Interment will follow in Bethel Cemetery. The Yates family will be receiving friends on Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Trenton.
Long after his funeral service is held, DeWayne will be remembered as a family man, who had a strong faith in God, love for the Gators and good food. DeWayne loved to cook, talk politics and spend time with the ones he loved.
Above all, DeWayne will be remembered as an all around great guy who loved his family, his many friends and the community he called home.