A celebration of life for our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Annette Yates, lovingly called “Mema”, will be Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 3 p.m. at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home, with Chet Berry officiating. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Cullman Heritage Home.
Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.
Annette was born on September 21, 1940, in New Hope, Alabama. She was one of three children born to Earl and Clyde Elrod.
She was preceded in death by her parents; twin sister, Jeanette Berry and a younger sister, Sheila Montgomery; brother-in-law, Rod Montgomery; grandson, Austin Schaffer, and grandson In Law, Caleb Vandagriff.
She is survived by her husband of almost seventy years, James Yates; sons, Jerome Yates (Sandra), Tim Yates (Paula); daughters, Anita Schaffer (Jimmy), and Pam Berry (Chet); grandchildren, Margie McFalls (Matt), Emily Vandagriff, Trent Schaffer, and Kalan Krueger; great-grandchildren, Sydnie Vandagriff, Sadie Vandagriff, Layla Grace McFalls, Eli Krueger, Ben Krueger, Ezra Krueger, Sawyer Vandagriff; brother-in-law, Robert Berry; a host of nieces and nephews.
Annette graduated from Holly Pond High School and worked as a seamstress and quality inspector for many years. She loved serving and being active in her community. She was a member of the New Hope No. 2 Baptist Church and enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels for eighteen years. She was a Blue-Ribbon quilter, a member of the Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild, serving as President one year. She was a member of the New Hope Fan Club and a member of the Holly Pond Homemaker’s Club, serving as president for two years.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Annette’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association. You can make donations at act.alz.org.
