Yancey Thomas, Jr.
Yancey Thomas, Jr. came into the world on Tuesday, November 8, 1955, born to Yancey Thomas Sr. and Fannie Mae Mitchell Thomas in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He returned home on March 3, 2025.
Yancey was active in a variety of sports and activities. He ran track and played football while passionately fighting for various causes. As a youth, he fought on behalf of his people in Chattanooga's Black Panther division. After graduating from Riverside High School in 1973, he received scholarships for football and physics, studying at Tennessee State University and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He also graduated from the Electronic Computer Programming Institute where he gained computer software knowledge that would serve him in all of his future endeavors.
He spent many years working at First Tennessee Bank and TVA where he retired. He served as a Chattanooga Fitness Instructor for 39 years in various programs and institutions around the city. He trained in Washington D.C. to become a licensed Tennessee Employee Rights mediator, serving effectively in this role. His experiences in the workforce led him to become an Employee Rights Advocate and created a consulting website to aid others.
After founding his Employee Rights organization, he became a web development mogul and entrepreneur guiding others in building and maintaining a web presence. He created many websites concerning his passions with fitness, teaching and studying the bible, honoring his school legacy and chronicling the legacy of his family.
Yancey Thomas Jr. was preceded in death by his father, Yancey Thomas Sr. and his mother, Fannie Mae Mitchell Thomas.
Left to celebrate his life is his wife, Yvonne Thomas; children, Cacharra (Hermilo) Thomas Rabago, Brandie and Jasmine Thomas; stepson, Michael Dunnigan; grandchildren, Ja'Marcus Tyrek Thomas, Ayden Rabago, Parys Spratling, Ashton Rabago, Mecca Spratling and Jewels Spratling; sisters-in-law, Cynthia (Lonnie) Dawkins and Lily Dunnigan and as well as an extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family.
A memorial service to celebrate Yancey's life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 423 622-9995.