Donna Yates

Evangelist Donna Yvonne Cyrus-Yates was called to her eternal home in Glory on November 1, 2020, where she surely met her loving parents Ralph W. Cyrus, Sr. and Priscilla R. Cyrus, her spiritual sister Elder Butler, and First Lady Barbara Lockett again.

Donna Yvonne Cyrus-Yates was born to Ralph W. Cyrus, Sr. and Priscilla R. Cyrus at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital in Brooklyn, New York on January 7,1964.
She attended Brooklyn Friends Academy, where she loved to remind us that she went skating with the Kennedys. Donna moved on to high school and graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School.

At the age of 15, Donna became a member of the Kingdom at Tabernacle of Prayer for All People Inc. under the late Apostle Johnnie Washington. She was 17 years old when she dedicated her life to God and ran solely for Him ever since.

On August 4, 1990, she married her childhood sweetheart, Jeffrey Legree.  That union bore five beautiful children: Anthony, Dominique, Jeffrey, David, Khadija, and her bonus son Sharif.

Throughout 1998 - 2000, Donna attended Prophetess Junita Bynum’s Mentorship classes, where the women were especially handpicked. There, Prophetess Bynum spoke over her life declaring she would minister God’s Word. She was also named the Valedictorian of the Mentorship Class. She was ordained Minister by God at The Tabernacle of Prayer for all People under Bishop Ronnie Davis in October 1999.

Anyone who knew Donna knew that she loved her children and grandchildren, with all of her heart and every ounce of her being. She also loved to cook and bake. She had a way of cooking anything without a recipe and she automatically knew what ingredients to use.

In 2007, Donna was remarried to John Yates and relocated to Charlotte, NC, where she was employed with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.  Donna worked at Turning Point Academy, an alternative school, for over 14 years, where she tirelessly went above and beyond to ensure the students received the best education possible.

She joined Greater Life Ministries and served under Bishop Lockett, Sr.  She was soon elevated to Evangelist Donna Cyrus-Yates. She loved the Lord with all her heart, and you knew it. She loved her church and you could count on her yelling “Preach Bishop” or “Preach Pastor”  Family and Friends were Donna’s first ministry and she opened her doors to them every Sunday. Any given Sunday, Donna would prepare a feast that would include ham, yams, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and fried turkey wings at the least. There was always a pound cake or specialty cake to go with it. Dinner would be ready when she arrived home from church.

Evangelist Donna Yvonne Cyrus-Yates leaves behind her 5 children: Anthony, Dominique, Jeffrey, David, Khadija, and bonus son Sharif, 7 grandchildren: Nicholas, Shayla, McKenzie, London, Savannah, Jasmine Grace, and baby Legend, 3 siblings: Annette Libert, Marilyn Cyrus, and Ralph W. Cyrus, Jr., husband, John Yates, 2 daughters-in-law; Tuesday and Danielle, 1 future son-in-law, Derrick, her best friend of 50 years Angela Millender, 2 spiritual daughters, her God-Daughter Enasia Bell, The 2live Crew, the Flossy Possie, and her forever family in love, the entire Legree family. She also leaves behind The Cyrus family, the Wigfall-Shaw family and a host of other family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Sunday, November 8, 2020 at Spirit of the Word Church, 500 Ingle St. Charlotte, NC 28213. The funeral service will follow and will be officiated by Bishop Lockett, Sr.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Harrisburg is serving the Yates family.  Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com