Mrs. Mavis Griffin Yates, a resident of McCrory, Arkansas, departed this life on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at her home at the age of 88. She was born in McCrory on May 15, 1938, the daughter of Oscar and Alma L. (Scott) Griffin.
Mavis graduated from Trevecca Nazarene School in Nashville, Tennessee. She married her teenage sweetheart, Garner Lawson, and both continued their education at Trevecca. After graduation, Garner and Mavis pastored a church in Aliceville, Alabama, until cancer claimed the life of Garner. They had two boys, Joey and Jeff Lawson, ages one and four when Garner died.
Mavis and her two boys returned to Trevecca Nazarene College, where she met and married Walter Yates. They were married for 50 years and had two boys, Gene and Phillip. After living in several states, they returned to McCrory in 1974. Cancer claimed the life of Walter in December 2012.
Mavis dedicated more than 40 years to her work as an administrative assistant for Fletcher C. Lewis, Attorney at Law. A faithful member of McCrory Church of the Nazarene, Mavis was always involved in the Nazarene Church wherever she lived by teaching, serving as choir director, serving as a member of the church board, etc. She loved music and singing, and she loved her family, especially her boys and brothers.
Mavis was preceded in death by two husbands, Garner Lawson and Walter Yates; her parents; three sons, Joey Lawson, Jeff Lawson, and Gene Yates; three brothers, Larry, Bobby, and Glenn Griffin; and a grandson.
She is survived by her son, Phillip Yates and wife, Patricia, of McCrory; seven grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Friends may visit at the McCrory Church of the Nazarene from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.
Funeral services will be conducted at the church at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, with Rev. Greg Dewitt and Rev. Timmery Clark officiating. Interment will follow in Fakes Cemetery in McCrory.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Alex Holland, Jeff Lawson, Alex Yates, Austin Yates, Brandon Yates, and Bryson Yates.
Memorials may be made to McCrory Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 412, McCrory, AR 72101.
Arrangements by Thompson-Wilson Funeral Home of McCrory.
