Ralph Jerome Yates Jr.

A Love Supreme

The Life of Ralph Jerome Yates Jr

Ralph Jerome Yates Jr, passed away peacefully with his loving and devoted wife by his side on Monday April 21, 2025.

Affectionately known as “Jerome”, he was born March 8, 1956, in McDowell County, West Virginia to Ralph and Christine Yates. The baby of the bunch of 6 siblings, James, Mildred, Mable, Rachel Jean, and Joyce. He was raised in a loving household surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins, in East Columbus, Ohio.

Jerome graduated from Mohawk Jr/Sr High School in Columbus, Ohio class of 1974, where he played on the football team and made lifelong friendships with Eddie Tate, Mickey, Chip, Reuben, Eddie Tillman and many others.  He continued his football career at University of Akron, where he met the love of his life, Valerie “Nesie” Scott.  They married in 1981, and had 2 beautiful daughters, Kristen Elizabeth, and Mallory Renee.  And from those daughters he became “PaPa” to grandsons Jalen Keith, Miles Tristan, Grayson Jerome, and Noah Anthony and granddaughter Jaden Alexandria. He loved his grandchildren tremendously, always boasting about their accomplishments, and sneakily sending them a little money for milkshakes and toys.

Jerome had an amazing work ethic which was displayed during his professional careers at Lane Paving, Sherman Williams, TS Trim, and Columbus Metropolitan Library.

Jerome was also a man of faith, a long-time member of Traveler’s Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he served on the Sound Ministry and Men’s Ministry. He later attended Kettering Missionary Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

A true sports fan, Ralph was a loyal Cleveland Browns fan, and a fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes. Lately his favorite team was the Arbutus Golden Eagles, where his grandson played as a lineman just like his PaPa.

A true renaissance man, Jerome had several hobbies and interest and was most commonly known as an avid music lover, especially a fan of Jazz, Funk, and Soul music.  He was a foodie and loved to try cuisines from all over the world, but his tried-and-true favorites were chitterlings, sweet potatoes, cabbage, Dilly Bars from Dairy Queen, and yellow cake with chocolate icing.  He also enjoyed eating from the fruits of his garden, where he spent countless hours tending.  Jerome loved traveling, and was always down for a good road trip, whether to South Carolina or to pick up fireworks for the 4th of July cookout. He also loved art, fishing, Westerns, Dateline,  and photography.

Above all Ralph was a family man. He taught us all the importance of supporting each other in both good times and bad and staying close. Through his example our family saw what commitment, sacrifice and intentional love looks like in action. Jerome answered a calling few even recognized to be an “Uncle Daddy” to all of his treasured nieces and nephews, standing in the gap and filling hearts with the love of a father.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph J. Yates Sr., and Christine Yates, and in-laws Harry and Elizabeth Scott. He also joins his sisters Mabel L. Chandler, Rachel Jean Yates, and Mildred E. Yates, nieces Annette Brown Damphl, and Simone Scott, along with a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends in Heaven.

Left to continue his legacy of love is his wife, Valerie Denise, and his daughters Kristen E Yates, and Mallory (Kurt) LaFon, along with his siblings Joyce (Harvey) Brown, and James Avery and siblings in love Cheryl, Janis, Brian (Chris), and Kevin. He leaves his  grandchildren Jaden, Jalen, Miles, Grayson, and Noah.  Nieces and nephews, Christal (Marcus), Maurice, Charles “Von” (Jennifer), Jana Faye (Steven) and his best friend Christopher “George” Chandler. He was also Uncle Ralph to Brittany, Janeena, Brianna (Paulette), Brian Jr., and a host of great and great-great nieces and great nephews.

He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and eternally remembered.

You did a fine job Daddy, fine job!  As you liked to say, “It’ll be alright”.

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