Alvin Percell Yates

Alvin Percell Yates was born in Washington, DC on December 8, 1954. Al, as he was affectionately called, departed this life on March 2, 2021, at University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata, MD.

Al was the seventh of 10 children born to the late Joseph Earl and LaVerne Gwendolyn (Johnson) Yates. He was educated in the Charles County Public School System, graduating from La Plata High School in 1973.

In 1987 at Earl's Truck Stop and Restaurant in Bel Alton, MD, Al met the love of his life, his life partner, Cathy Jo Brown. They were married in an intimate ceremony on Sept. 19, 2007. Al and Cathy were inseparable. They loved to take vacations together and sometimes they would take the grandchildren, who enjoyed hanging out with Grandpa and Nana.

Like his father and brothers before him, Al was a great mechanic – it was as if this skill came to him naturally. As a member of Local Union No. 832, Al was employed as a Laborer at the Calvert Cliff Nuclear Plant. He had also worked at Southern Maryland Hospital as a Transporter; Plant Farm Incorporated in La Plata, delivering flowers and participating in plant shows throughout the Maryland/DC area; and Andrews Auto Parts in White Plains, MD, picking up and/or delivering auto parts.

In 2012, Al overcame Stage 4 Throat Cancer which left him unable to speak. Al had a reasonably easy time adapting to this life challenge because he was basically a quiet, unassuming person. However, he made sure you understood him when he needed to get his points across. He never let this setback prevent him from doing anything. Al had a kind spirit and always enjoyed having fun. He would help anyone who needed it without question; for example, he would shovel his sister in law's, Barbara's, steps and help her with whatever she needed.

Al had a soft spot in his heart for his grandchildren. He loved talking football with Junior: Savannah fondly remembers that Grandpa would take them to the school park and buy them ice cream; Shawn remembers that Al would take him to school when he missed the bus and he loved their snowball fights; James Jr loved it when Al cooked them breakfast – he “made the best fried potatoes.” He will never forget that Grandpa took them to see their first Spiderman movie.

Al was an avid sports fan and enjoyed rooting for his favorite football team – Washington Redskins (now known as the Washington Football Team), which he shared with his grandson, James Jr. Al especially enjoyed engaging in rivalries with his brothers as they defended their teams of choice. But no matter what his brothers or friends said, he never stopped supporting the Redskins. Al also enjoyed basketball, which he often played with his brothers. While in Florida, Al played on several teams and Cathy would sit in the stands rooting for him and wiping his forehead when he came off of the court. He would play hard and because of his skills, he was nicknamed “Alley Oop.”

Al also enjoyed playing cards; especially Spades. His partner was his cousin Larry and the two of them considered his Mom and Sister, Joan, to be their biggest rivalry. Truth be told, most of the times he and Larry were the victors! He enjoyed watching movies (his favorite was Kelly's Heroes), especially kung fu, wrestling and reading comic books, which he shared with his grandson, Shawn. At an early age, he developed a love for car racing from his father and older brothers and that became their favorite Sunday past time; especially when his father or brother Joe were driving the family race car - “Ball of Confusion.” His love for car racing never waned. Al also enjoyed music and he was a great dancer – he had a style all of his own. Oftentimes, when he and his friend David Keyes were on the floor, everyone else stopped dancing to watch them.

Little known fun facts about Al: He loved birds and enjoyed filling the bird feeders and watching the different kinds of birds eat. It was peaceful to him. Also, ducks would wander into the yard and Al would feed them. Eventually, they would come up to him so he named them Tom and Mary. Al – a kind spirit!

In addition to his parents, Al was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Brenda Bivins, and his great-nephew, J'Shaun Wallace.

Although Al was close with all of his siblings and his nieces, he had a very special relationship with his brother, Moonie. Most of the times, when you saw one, you saw the other because they were together. They were each other's best friend.

Al leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Cathy, sister-in-law, Barbara Brown, stepson, James Brown, grandchildren, Junior Hughes, Savannah Brown, Shawn Brown, and James Brown, Jr., his siblings, Patricia Wills, Joseph (Cynthia), Steve (Elaine), Gilbert Bivins, Carolyn Adams, Joan Yates, Gilbert (Ernestine), Rodney (aka Moonie), Cyril (Janettte), and Sheila Makle; one Uncle, Allen Yates, and Aunts Bertha Chisley, Omia Chisley, Jeanette Cooper, Dorothy Johnson, Mary Louise Yates, and Elva Yates. Al's memory will also be cherished by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and Stacey Savoy, with whom he shared a special fatherly relationship.