Yates Thompson, Sr. was the son of William Tappan Thompson, famous Georgia Journalist and author, and Caroline Amour (Love) Carrie Thompson.

On October 19, 1871, Yates Thompson married Annie A. Smith in Savannah, Chatham County, GA. The Rev. James E. Evans of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church performed the ceremony. Interestingly, this same pastor performed the marriage ceremony for Yates Thompson's aunt and uncle, Mary Eloisa Carrie and William Hill in Augusta, GA. (Rev. Evans was pastor at Augusta from 1847-48 at St. John's M E Church and pastor at Trinity M E Church from 1871-1872.)

Yates and Annie had several children: William Tappan, Yates, Jr., Caroline Love, and Hugh T. Thompson.

Some of Yates occupation's in life include, working as a clerk in a store on 145 Bay Street in 1870 and 1877. In 1888, he worked for A.B. Hull as a travel agent and in 1900, he worked as a commercial traveler for the firm J.M. Dixon and Co. Wholesale Grocers.

His family described him as being a "quiet, unassuming man".

On July 17, 1900, Yates died at Johnston's Station, Liberty County, GA of acute ingestion of which he had off and on several times. (Today, his diagnosis would have probably been heart disease.) On July 18, 1900, Yates Thompson, was buried in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, GA.

Thompson-The relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Yates Thompson and family are invited to attend the funeral of the former from No. 101 Henry Street, East at 5 o'clock this afternoon. Interment in Bonaventure Cemetery.

Savannah Morning News, July 18, 1900, p. 2, col. 3, Wed.


Twenty-nine years later, Yates was removed from Bonaventure Cemetery to Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida to be interred with the rest of his family. According to Evergreen Cemetery records, Yates was buried on March 11, 1929.